Client: Shanghai World EXPO Land Holding Co. Ltd., Shanghai

Architect: SBA GmbH Shanghai/Stuttgart

Cooperation: ECADI, Shanghai

Completion: 04.2010

Software: SOFiSTiK ASE (Gridshell), EASY (Membrane)

After the Olympic Games in Peking, the Expo in Shanghai is the biggest international event. At the time of the opening in May, the organisers expect over 70 million visitors. The slogan ‚Better City Better Life’ puts life in the cities of the 21st century at the heart of the exposition. Besides the China-Pavilion, the Expo Boulevard is the largest and most significant building on the site. It forms the central entrance area and provides 350,000 m2 effective area for numerous facilities for the exposition. Via the round 1,000 m long and 100 m wide axis, which stretches across the entire site to the Huangpu river, the visitors are guided to the various national and theme-based pavilions. The Expo Boulevard is one of five buildings, which will remain after the world exposition to form the centre of a new urban district of Shanghai in the long run. The winning competition design for the central boulevard originates by the architectural and urban design practice SBA from Stuttgart/ Shanghai.

The Expo Boulevard is covered by a membrane roofing with a total surface of 65,000 m2, the currently largest of its kind world-wide. With a free span of almost 100 m, it sounds the limits of technical feasibility. The roof is carried by 19 interior and 31 exterior masts and by six funnel shaped framework shells consisting of steel and glass. It has a height of 45 m and a free projection of 80 m. These so called sun valleys direct natural light into the basements.

Membrane roof and sun valleys: Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering, Stuttgart, Germany

Energy scheme: Scholze Consulting, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany

Gross floor space: 280,000 m2

Surface of membrane roof: 65,000 m2

Span: 100 m

Surface of free-form member system: 31,500 m2

Dimension boulevard: 100 m x 1,000 m

Realisation period: 2006 – 2010