A new museum where visitors can explore the V&A’s world-renowned collection and the best of today’s art, design and performance. The programme will be co-curated with the Smithsonian Institution, bringing two of the world’s leading museums together for the first time.
The new building will house pioneering exhibitions, gallery displays, events and activities, spaces for community-led projects, installations, and creative collaborations - and a café, shop, outdoor spaces and great views over the Park.
What were the challenges and what made the project successful?
The major challenge on the project was its complex geometry. The architectural details and overall presentation. Face cutting and joining of precast parts that intersect, at time, at 3 different angles.
Another large challenge was to hit the requirements set out in the BIP by the overall project coordinators. This was a stringent set of rulings that had to be met on a fortnightly target. BIM scoring was used to assess the procurement of the modelled parts.
What are you most proud of about the project?
I'm most proud of the coordination between my company and the steelworks contractor. Together we have delivered an extremely complex model / building that fit perfectly to its structure.
A project of this complexity would not be possible in 2D. This is where the use of Tekla has come to the forefront. It has allowed complex 3D modelling and conveying of "impossible" to understand building details to be understood. Tekla has continued to deliver enabling us to compete at the highest of BIM standards not to mention being able to drive sales, detailing, factory and site installations.
The project in numbers
- Part of the London Legacy Development, whose total capital cost is to be £1.1bn The actual cost of the V&A has not been disclosed.
- Precast Facade with 490 units
- A total weight of 2420 Tonne
- A total volume of 1005 m3
- The work on the project has taken 12 months
