The urban actions of the Forum 2004 were to include a photovoltaic plant of 4,600 m2 capable of generating 1.3 MW of electrical energy. The supporting structure, with a maximum height of almost 52 m, had to allow the orientation of the surface southwards with an inclination of 30º, in addition to providing a large area of shade on the esplanade of the Forum and the Marina. The design, developed by architects Elías Torres and José Antonio Martínez Lapeña jointly with Esteyco, consisted of a large metal pergola located at the southwest end of the esplanade above the Sailing School. Four planes of concrete with heights of between 22 and 45 m rise from the roof of the School and act as a pedestal. The combination of concrete and steel made it possible to meet the functional requisites of the plant and the architectural factors of a structure of such importance and symbolism in an outstanding space like the Forum. The great complexity of these elements, the tight deadline for carrying out the work and the importance of the topographic and technical coordination increased the importance of the construction process. The concrete “legs” were built independently from the rest of the structure, using a climbing formwork that made it possible to work at four independent sites with great speed. It was decided to raise the completed metal beams after welding them on the ground, with a combination of an 800 t crane and a 500 t for crane for each main beam. The greatest difficulty of the process consisted in aligning a 112 m long beam weighing 260 t with 25 bolts embedded in the concrete, with tolerances of 20 mm and with the inclinations and geometric complexity of this structure. When the metal structure had been completed, the concrete and the steel were “stitched” using prestressed bars from the inside of the boxes.
• Images of the pergola under construction. • General view of the finished structure.
PHOTOVOLTAIC PERGOLA IN THE FORUM 2004 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Barcelona, 2002-2003