BERM

The TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, designed by Eero Saarinen and engineered by Amman & Whitney, is an iconic example of mid-century modern architecture and engineering. Completed in 1962, its sweeping, bird-like design symbolizes flight, achieved through innovative thin-shell concrete construction. The roof, composed of four intersecting concrete shells, is supported at just four points, creating a spacious, column-free interior. This design not only evokes the image of a bird in motion but also demonstrates groundbreaking structural engineering that balanced aesthetics with functionality, using reinforced concrete and precision glasswork to handle wind loads and create a light, open atmosphere. #TWAFlightCenter #StructuralEngineering #IconicArchitecture #MidCenturyModern #EeroSaarinen #AviationDesign #ThinShellConcrete #EngineeringMarvel #ArchitecturalMasterpiece #ModernLandmark #ConcreteDesign #AirportArchitecture #AviationHistory #InnovationInDesign #BirdInspiredStructure #JFKAirport #TimelessDesign

Check out the East Village Residential Building in Mar Mikhael, where cutting-edge architecture meets innovative structural engineering! Client: Kettaneh Group Architect: JMB Jean-Marc Bonfils & Associates Structural Engineer: BERM MEP Consultant: Kamal Sioufi & Associates Location: Medawar Lot 1156, Mar Mikhael, Lebanon Built-Up Area (BUA): 8,000 m² Reference: RM511 Project Type: Residential Year of Completion: 2008 #Architecture #StructuralEngineering #InnovativeDesign #EngineeringExcellence #ResidentialArchitecture #UrbanDesign #MarMikhael #LebanonArchitecture #Archilovers

The Dancing House in Prague, Czech Republic, is a true masterpiece of modern architecture and structural engineering. Designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić, it seamlessly blends art and science with its flowing, dynamic form. The building consists of two main parts: a static cylindrical tower, symbolizing "Fred," and a curving glass structure with sculptural pillars, symbolizing "Ginger." Together, they create the impression of a couple gracefully dancing. Achieving the undulating shapes of the façade involved crafting 99 custom-shaped concrete panels, each uniquely curved. The unconventional design required innovative load distribution, relying on concrete cores, load-bearing walls, and cantilevered beams to balance the irregular geometry. #StructuralEngineering #ArchitecturalDesign #ReinforcedConcrete #EngineeringInnovation #PragueArchitecture #IconicBuildings

As structural engineers, we understand the importance of building a strong foundation, not only in our projects, but in the values that hold us together as a people. Today, we honor Lebanon’s enduring spirit & commitment to rebuilding, no matter the challenges. Happy Independence Day! #StructuralEngineers #StrongFoundations #Rebuilding #Lebanon #EnduringSpirit #StrengthInUnity #IndependenceDay #Nov22

The Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge in Brasília, Brazil, is a remarkable example of modern structural design. Completed in 2002, the bridge spans 1,200 meters across Lake Paranoá, connecting the city’s southern region to its central district. Its standout feature is its three asymmetrical steel arches, which support the deck with cables arranged in an innovative crisscross pattern. This design not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also efficiently distributes structural loads. The bridge seamlessly blends functionality with artistic expression, symbolizing Brasília’s modernist ethos and serving as both an essential transportation link and an architectural landmark. #StructuralEngineering #BridgeDesign #IconicArchitecture #ModernEngineering #CableStayedBridge #JuscelinoKubitschek #InnovativeStructures #ArchitecturalLandmark #Brazil

The Space Needle in Seattle, USA, is an iconic example of innovative structural engineering. Built for the 1962 World's Fair, this 605-foot tall observation tower was designed to withstand strong wind and seismic forces in the seismically active region of the Pacific Northwest. Its design includes a wide base with a narrow, tapered structure, which helps maintain stability against high winds. The rotating restaurant at the top is supported by a central column, and the entire structure is reinforced to ensure it can endure earthquakes. The Space Needle's use of space frame construction and steel-reinforced concrete was groundbreaking at the time and continues to be admired for both its aesthetic appeal and its engineering resilience. #StructuralEngineering #SpaceNeedle #SeismicEngineering #WindResistance #InnovativeDesign #Seattle #ModernArchitecture

The Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China, stands as a marvel of modern structural engineering. With its hyperboloid, twisting design, the tower is both visually striking and structurally efficient, combining a unique lattice framework that narrows at the "waist" and widens at the top and bottom. This design helps distribute loads and withstand the area’s intense wind and seismic forces. Advanced engineering techniques, including vortex-induced vibration controls and tuned mass dampers, keep the structure stable and comfortable for visitors. Rising 604 meters, Canton Tower embodies innovation in skyscraper design and showcases the blend of art and engineering in contemporary architecture. #CantonTower #StructuralEngineering #EngineeringMarvel #ModernArchitecture #TwistingTower

The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and structural engineer Bruno Contarini, is celebrated for its futuristic design that resembles a flying saucer perched on a cliff. One fascinating structural engineering feature of this museum is its central support column, which is only 9 meters in diameter and supports the entire 50-meter-diameter structure. The column not only holds the museum's weight but also contains built-in systems for ventilation and plumbing. This allows the museum to have a striking, floating appearance while maximizing the open exhibition space inside, free from additional structural elements like pillars or walls. The building’s stability is further enhanced by a reinforced concrete cantilever design that spreads the load through the circular base. This allows the structure to withstand both the high winds from the coastal environment and the seismic forces common in this region. #StructuralEngineering #NiteroiMuseum #OscarNiemeyer #EngineeringMarvel #BrazilArchitecture #ConcreteDesign #ModernArchitecture #IconicArchitecture

The Oculus, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava LLC, features a unique ribbed structure that resembles a bird in flight. The design includes 114 steel ribs that arch up and out, creating a skylight that lets natural light fill the space. This skylight opens every September 11th, allowing sunlight to directly illuminate the main hall at exactly 10:28 a.m., commemorating the time of the collapse of the North Tower in 2001. This engineering marvel is both a functional transit hub and a powerful symbol of resilience, blending structural innovation with a tribute to the site's history. #OculusNYC #SantiagoCalatrava #StructuralInnovation #EngineeringMarvel #NYCArchitecture #TransitHub #ArchitecturalDesign #EngineeringExcellence #ModernArchitecture #BuildingResilience #SteelStructure #SkylightDesign #Commemorative #Architecture #NYC

Plot #893 is situated in a residential area of East Beirut, with a plot surface of 1,054 square meters and an allowable built-up area of approximately 4,100 square meters. The residential project runs parallel to Montée Barakat, an old public stairway linking Achrafieh Street to its adjacent southern neighborhood. As part of a series of projects we have developed that attempt to move away from the often imposed typical developer’s typology consisting of deep floor slabs, this proposed scheme is one that is stretched along its depth, resulting in shallow and elongated plans embracing an inner garden. With a relatively modest length of 14 meters running along the northern street-facing façade, the building is aligned flush with the western blind parti wall, stretching the plan along the 55-meter depth of the plot, thus rendering the slabs of the apartments shallow along the eastern-western axis allowing for generous natural light and maximizing the residences’ exposure to a rare feature in such a dense urban context: an internal 650-square-meter garden on the eastern side. The scheme generates longitudinal balconies which wrap around the glazed periphery of the dwellings, out of which double-height reception areas protrude as organic pavilion-like structures overlooking the garden, further exposing them to the exterior, providing cross-ventilation and maximizing their natural light gain. The serpentine terraces that define the eastern edge of the plan allow for one to make their way from any room in the house to another solely from the exterior, giving rise to an alternative outdoor circuit allowing the building to integrate itself into its surrounding by embracing its garden and the void above it. Architect: Bernard Khoury / DW5 Structure: BERM #ResidentialArchitecture #UrbanDesign #SustainableLiving #InnerGarden #BeirutArchitecture #StructuralEngineering #GreenSpaces #ModernResidences #NaturalLight #CrossVentilation #OutdoorLiving #Cityscape #Achrafieh