Our feature article tries to give an insight into the challenge facing the consulting engineer working in Saudi Arabia, and highlights some of the differences in practising there and practising in the United Kingdom.
Ove Arup and Partners established a small local design office in Riyadh in 1975 shortly after the construction of their first two major structural design projects in the Kingdom.
These projects were the Riyadh Intercontinental Hotel and King Faisal Conference Centre, for which Arups were the structural engineers to the architect Trevor Dannatt ; and the Mecca Hotel and Conference Centre for which the architects were Rolf Gutbrod and Frei Otto.
Other topics in this issue include: The spire of Holy Trinity Church, Coventry – wind testing and restoration of 72m tall 17th century church spire, UK; Study for a deep water testing tank for the UK Science Research Council Marine Technology Directorate and the National Maritime Institute; A computer system for building services design – a description of the THERMAL program suite; Ebury Street Development – a photostory on the luxury apartment block in London, UK; Structural Steel Design Awards 1980.
