COWI

Remember to look down and up 👀 While nearly six years of construction can sound like a long time, the latest extension of The Copenhagen Metro and Greater Copenhagen Light Rail has been in the planning much longer. An underground metro is no easy decision and takes careful preparation and long-term planning. The future perspective must be at least 100 years for a project like this to make sense. Sluseholmen station is situated in the middle of an area that is still under development, currently the area is one big building site to be honest and will be home to thousands of people and businesses in the coming years. But the station is open and in use and both today’s and tomorrow’s passengers can enjoy two spectacular artworks by Renè Schmidt. The underground metro stations in Copenhagen vary in depth and to many Sluseholmen will seem deeper than it actually is with René Schmidt’s gravity defying giant silver sculpture hanging upside down between the two flights of escalators. Go and see for yourself to experience the barophobic sensation. At the platform itself the artist has used the concrete construction itself to create what could be a giant stone fossil with sea animals. Look up and lose yourself in the organic details. Next week we’ll stop on Mozarts Plads. In the meantime, you can read more about the Copenhagen Metro here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dzaPkD6X Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj for Arkitema.

⛰🌉Imagine cruising along the winding roads of North Carolina's iconic Blue Ridge Parkway, surrounded by the stunning Appalachian Mountains. For decades, the Laurel Fork River Bridge has been a part of this journey. Now, with our partners at STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES and James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction Company, Inc., we’re making sure it continues to be a safe and reliable crossing for years to come. The first precast segment pairs at Piers 1 and 2 have been successfully erected, marking the completion of a critical phase in the bridge replacement project. Ivan Liu, P.E., Senior Bridge Engineer at COWI, shares, “The Vannoy Construction and Structural Technologies teams have shown incredible diligence and communication throughout this process. The start of segment erection is always a pivotal event, ensuring everything aligns perfectly to push forward.” Next up, we’ll be working on the balanced cantilevers at Pier 1 and 2, followed by the casting of the closure segments. Each step brings us closer to completing this vital infrastructure, ensuring the bridge seamlessly blends with its natural surroundings while meeting modern standards of safety and durability. Read more on the project at the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/dN3k9-Gt #COWI #BridgeEngineering #Infrastructure #Construction #BlueRidgeParkway #LaurelForkRiverBridge

Did you know that Karlatornet is the tallest building in Scandinavia? 🏙️ Karlatornet is the first skyscraper in Gothenburg, and the impressive building contains: ➡ 246 meters in height ➡ 74 floors ➡ 611 apartments ➡ a hotel, offices and a sky bar. The tower has been under construction since 2019, and in 2022 the tower reached a milestone of 193 meters, officially surpassing Turning Torso in Malmö, and became the tallest building in Scandinavia. The design of Karlatornet is highly efficient in terms of floor space and energy usage, while still including apartments with views focused on the city and waterfront. Beyond its individual appeal, Karlatornet contributes to a sustainable vision for the entire area, bolstering the overall allure of Gothenburg, especially the post-industrial business district north of Götaälven. The tower's construction is also the start of the new district Karlastaden. In 2014, COWI was part of the team which won the architecture competition for Karlastaden, and COWI has continued to provide various technical services at different stages for the spectacular and exciting urban development project. In partnership with the contractor Serneke, Bravida and COWI have been responsible for project design, estimation and planning of all installations in the tower. Moreover, COWI has handled the electrical and mechanical (HVAC, sprinkler, sewerage and plumbing) systems. Arkitema has contributed with construction documents and more than 600 drawings to the project. With the Clarion Hotel opening in Karlatornet this summer, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore the extraordinary building and the surrounding neighbourhood!  

Art is included in the ticket ✒ The first Copenhagen Metro was part of a greater plan to develop the new urban area Ørestad. Since then The Copenhagen Metro and Greater Copenhagen Light Rail has expanded to improve mobility in the city centre and help connectivity for the many new inhabitants in North Harbour (Nordhavn). The latest addition to the M4 line is five stations connecting the South Harbour (Sydhavn) area where the second new station is Enghave Brygge. As the other stations it’s been decorated to give passengers an extra experience. At Enghave Brygge the artist Pernille With Madsen has created a series of works that reminds you of archaeological and geological excavations. Using her bare hands she has dug into the station terracotta wall cladding and in concrete reliefs with installed small light-conductor cables or has immersed marble in concrete in abstract forms. Her subtle art even extends to the tunnel walls visible from the platform. The platform at Enghave Brygge is closer to the surface. With big skylights plenty of daylight is projected down on the escalators and platform creating an almost open air feeling to the underground station. Next week we’ll stop on Sluseholmen. In the meantime, you can read more about the Copenhagen Metro here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dzaPkD6X Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj for Arkitema.

We have groundbreaking news – quite literally! Geothermie Neubrandenburg GmbH, a COWI company, has reached a 1000-metre drilling milestone in Neuruppin’s new geothermal district heating project. The pilot project, in collaboration with Neuruppin's municipal utilities, aims to provide a sustainable and independent heating solution to the German town by 2027. Neuruppin’s unique geological structure combined with its existing district heating network makes it possible to extract water at a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius and efficiently cycle the water through two boreholes, maintaining a continuous flow of sustainable heat. "We only remove the heat and then inject the water back into the ground," says Paul Wagner, Project Manager. This approach ensures that we maintain the balance and integrity of our natural resources. The targeted depth of 1800 metres is expected to be reached in two months. Meanwhile, the first pumping tests will start in mid-August. Read more about this groundbreaking project (in German) at the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/drnqxqrR #GeothermalEnergy #SustainableEngineering #Innovation #DistrictHeating #COWI #RenewableEnergy

Take the new metro and get new experiences 🚇 On Saturday, June 22nd, King Frederik X cut the cord and inaugurated five new metro stations for The Copenhagen Metro and Greater Copenhagen Light Rail. After almost six years of construction work the many inhabitants in the new residential areas in the South Harbour (Sydhavn) can look forward to easier connectivity. Even if you don’t live in the South Harbour area there are good reasons to jump on the City Ring, M4, to the new stations: Havneholmen, Enghave Brygge, Sluseholmen, Mozarts Plads and København Syd. Above the ground the station areas have been designed to serve as recreative spaces for locals and visitors and underground each station has been decorated by different artists. Havneholmen is the first station and has been decorated by the art collective SUPERFLEX STUDIO. With the installation “Supermetro” you find yourself in an interpretation of time and space which gives associations to the movie Inception. When you look around the station room the traditional metro elements, check-in posts, bins, clocks and passenger information, have been turned upside down and played with to create a universe where space bends around you. The station is a funhouse where things appear normal at first but when you look closer not even the time on the clocks is correct (so remember to bring your own watch). Next week we’ll stop on Enghave Brygge. In the meantime, you can read more about the Copenhagen Metro here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dzaPkD6X Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj for Arkitema. 

While more and more cars are driven by electricity and batteries, it’s a different story when it comes to heavy transportation, in particular shipping and aviation 🚢✈ The demand for green fuels is expected to increase dramatically within the transportation sector and energy-heavy industries looking to lower their carbon emissions. Wind power and Power-to-X are some of the crucial technologies within the field of sustainable green fuels. Dive into the latest development of green fuels here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ddJunBsG

If you want something to move, it helps to give it a little nudge. But when it is the aviation sector’s green transition that you want to get rolling, a little more than that is needed 🛫 What exactly? One of Scandinavia's largest factories that produces synthetic and sustainable aviation fuel using power from wind turbines and solar panels. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is behind the project, which is called Fjord PtX, because of its location close to the Limfjord in Northern Jutland, Denmark. Here, the PtX plant will utilize renewable energy and CO₂ from a nearby waste incineration to produce green aviation fuel. We are responsible for planning the project and handling all regulatory processes, including the implementation of environmental and nature surveys and the application for the necessary permits. It is expected that all permits are in place, and construction can begin in 2026. Annually, the future plant is expected to be able to produce up to 110 million litres of aviation fuel, which will be more than enough to cover the annual domestic flights in Denmark, which currently consume 30 million litres of fuel. But the plant will not only deliver the first drops of green aviation fuel to Danish aviation. The factory will also produce a range of sustainable by-products for other sectors. Read more about it at this link 👇 https://lnkd.in/dCmvhDR2

Meet Anoop Singh Jangi, Head of Bridges, and Varsha Agarwal, Associate Technical Director. Together, they bridge gaps and build connections in engineering and friendship!   Their partnership dates back almost 12 years and is as remarkable as any bridge they have designed. Anoop and Varsha, experienced bridge experts, complement each other perfectly. Varsha's methodical, stable approach perfectly balances Anoop's innovative and dynamic style.   The story exemplifies the importance of collaboration, with every day dedicated to achieving excellence and finding joy in the process. Whether they are solving intricate engineering problems or enjoying a moment of laughter over tea, their strong friendship and teamwork serve as solid pillars in our field, infusing a sense of fun into the serious work of engineering. ☕👷♂️👷♀️   Isn't this a perfect example of being 'Outstanding Together"? #Outstandingtogether #Bridgedesign #Leadership #Collaboration  

Can 3D printing go mainstream for bridge construction? 🚀 In the past two decades, 3D printing has revolutionised the automotive, aerospace, and medical device industries, yet its adoption in the construction sector is left behind. Could this approach shift soon? COWI UK’s Vice President Joanna Bonnett highlights: “There is much more of a culture for prototyping new technologies in other industries.” Infrastructure projects face higher stakes due to safety parameters, making the testing of new technologies such as 3D printing more challenging. However, the situation appears to be changing. Some construction leaders, particularly in Europe have explored 3D printing for bridges, achieving remarkable milestones with projects like the world’s first 3D-printed reinforced concrete cycling bridge in the Netherlands and "Striatus" 16m span arched, unreinforced masonry footbridge in Italy composed of 3D printed hollow concrete blocks. What are the benefits of 3D printing?  • Complex Geometries: Allows for the creation of complex shapes often difficult to achieve with traditional methods. • Material Optimization: Could significantly reduce material waste. • Sustainability: Use of recycled materials and design optimization can lead to lower carbon footprints. Despite these benefits, why isn’t it mainstream? Joanna Bonnett explains that the use of 3D-printed models is common but that full-scale 3D-printed bridges remain research-centric due to a lack of design guidelines and performance data, along with higher costs and conservative industry attitudes. There also remain geometric limitations although these boundaries are being extended with each prototype project. Bonnett suggests starting with smaller components, which are not critical to overall structural stability, to build confidence and experience for larger applications. There are opportunities in maintenance and renewals to produce replacement parts that are no longer in production, which is vital to extending the life of our structures. Collaboration and knowledge sharing will be key. "Bringing together potential suppliers for knowledge sharing can expedite the transfer of knowledge from other industries into construction," Bonnett says. To learn more about the future of 3D printing for bridge construction read this insightful article 👇 https://lnkd.in/dB6gFybb #3DPrinting #BridgeConstruction #SustainableEngineering #Innovation #ThoughtLeadership