Structural Engineering 1

Using a case study, students investigate the design of the O² Dublin building and Stansted Airport in terms of structure. They look specifically at the requirements of the building and the constraints in terms of structural design and also the solution provided. This starter activity can form the stimulus for students to investigate structures in detail.

After watching the video Sound Design, students answer the following questions:

• What were the key issues the architect had to resolve?
• Why did they not want any columns supporting the roof structure?
• What was the span they had to achieve in metres?

Students then analyse how structural engineers designed an airport terminal with large, uninterrupted spaces for the efficient flow of passengers. The presentation provides useful images of the architect’s paper models and the building.

In the final activity, students experience structures in three dimensions by designing a structure that provides support and applying what they have learnt.

This resource, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), can be used as a stand-alone activity or with the other resources in the Sound Design collection.