Project Partners

Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald's project management role includes advising on the appointment of the various parties to the design process and controlling their commercial arrangements with MPI. Close liaison is maintained through meetings and a state-of-art web-based communication and document management system to ensure that the Project proceeds smoothly.

Key activities include developing a detailed computer based programme that sets down all the activities that will need to be carried out and the timeframe for their execution. We are not only controlling the immediate activities but also looking forward to preparing the ground for construction contracts and the establishment of site supervision teams. The programme will be used to monitor progress and identify those tasks that are critical to the process or those which are running behind schedule. Similarly we are researching construction and materials costs in order that we can develop an accurate cost estimate for the project, a process that will be continually refined as more detail emerges from the design process. Other activities of the Project management team include ensuring that all team members comply with quality assurance procedures, auditing safety of the design and establishing quality control guidelines.

Engineering Design

Mott MacDonald's structural design team under the leadership of Max Cole are designing the statue for a life of 1,000 years. Matters such as climatic change, extreme winds, earthquakes, steelwork corrosion, concrete durability, bronze casting and thermal stresses all have to be considered and are the subject of special studies. The team is working together with MPI specialists to incorporate the very latest techniques employed by the automotive industry for car body manufacture to build and support an accurate bronze clad statue magnified 100 times from the original artwork produced by the project sculptors.

The throne building will be clad in stonework and will be supported on stainless fixings tied back to the main structure to ensure long life. The structural team is working closely with the architects to achieve an elegant structure sympathetic to the needs of the two temples within the throne building, but also to provide the properties necessary to minimise any adverse environmental impact.

Advanced analysis techniques are being used to carry out detailed stress analysis and ensure that the statue and throne are safe under all foreseeable conditions. Particular effort is required to consider ease of construction and to minimise the maintenance of the completed structure and the use of expansion joints is being avoided to eliminate both the aesthetic intrusion and the maintenance liability associated with these joints.

Preliminary work with local contractors is underway to select suitable sources for sand, gravel and cement to avoid the problems associated with premature weathering and deterioration of concrete. Extensive use will be made of stainless steels and bronzes to ensure long life for the structure.

Visit Mott MacDonald's website at www.mottmac.com