Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a popular material in sport, motor racing and aerospace, but is still a relatively new material in construction. Eckersley O'Callaghan's relationship with Apple has allowed it to progress the development of CFRP as a structural material across several projects, including the design and completion last year of the Steve Jobs Theater at the tech giant's California HQ, featuring a CFRP roof 47m in diameter, the largest of its kind in the world. It comprised 44 radial panels that were assembled on site before being raised into position in one lift. At 40.7 tonnes, the CFRP structural mass is only 51% of the roofs overall mass, the rest being made up of ceiling, services and paint. CFRP was also used on two earlier collaborations between Eckersley O'Callaghan and Apple, in China and Turkey.
展开▼
