On the evening of Friday 25 June, more than 150 ICE members and staff, business partners, family and friends attended a concert and a discussion in the magnificent setting of the Great Hall, One Great George Street.
The event was hosted by ICE London and held in order to unveil the Anatomy of Civil Engineering mobile, suspended in the rotunda as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
The mobile showcased the work of civil engineers in the sectors of transport, energy, water and waste and represented the collaboration of built environment professionals. It was composed of engineering models representing key infrastructure projects developed by consultancies within the capital, and formed a dramatic, 30 metre structure.
The evening was introduced by Anusha Shah, chair of ICE London and included a concert by the Water City Band, directed by Michael Bochmann from the violin, and two fascinating talks by engineer Chris Wise and architect Ranulph Glanville who explored the parallels between music and the built environment.
This was an unusual and highly enjoyable social event, which has received much positive feedback. Guests’ comments on the mobile include:
“Superb structural narratives in a unique presentational context. Revisited it today. Still magnificent!”
“Well done to those who put it together”
Feedback on the concert and talks:
“Amazing, the music was outstanding and made even more enjoyable by Michael Bochmann's commentary.”
“Fantastic, eclectic choice of programme mixing the familiar with the less familiar. It was great to see such good young musicians as well.”
“… the talks enhanced the evening and brought some context to the music.”
There have also been calls for similar events to be hosted in the future:
“These events attract a diverse group of people from various areas of civil engineering who would not normally attend the Institution for the same specialist engineering-focused meetings. Therefore networking opportunities are enhanced.”
“Please do more of these kinds of events. And we should start gathering more with architects.”
Thanks must go to the consultancies that created and loaned infrastructure models for the mobile: Price & Myers, AECOM, Arup, Expedition, Buro Happold, quietrevolutionTM and Jane Wernick Associates.
Models included in the mobile: Thames Water’s London Tideway Tunnels pumping station; King’s Cross station roof; the Infinity Bridge; the Halley VI Antarctic Research Station; the London 2012 Olympic stadium; the qr5 wind turbine, the Xstrata Treetop Walkway at Kew Gardens; the Eel Net Bridge; the Velvet Mill; the Martello Tower and the Hy-pavilion.
Read the booklet about the mobile – Anatomy of Civil Engineering
Chris Wise has also written an article for Building about his experience taking part in this event. Read it here
Anatomy of Civil Engineering mobile
Michael Bochmann
