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[Male narrator] How do you
create a world-class museum
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underground in a swamp?
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[Lonnie] Every day
the water got deeper
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and they couldn't
figure out how to do it.
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[Narrator] Can engineers
breathe new life
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into a huge tower that
has lain empty for 30 years?
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[Sean] You realise
that nothing is straight,
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everything is enormous.
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[Narrator] And how do you
create an office block
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where the floors hang
perilously 100 feet into space?
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It was possibly the most
dramatic bit of construction
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that I will ever see.
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[music]
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[Narrator] This is the
age of the extraordinary.
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[Hayley] It's like one of
those insect-eating plants,
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only enormous and white.
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[Narrator] Where
ingenious engineers
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have unleashed unchecked
creativity.
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Now their secrets are revealed
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as we discover the inside
stories of their construction.
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This is an incredible feat
of planning and engineering.
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[Narrator] To try
and understand...
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How did they build that?
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During the series,
some of the most thrilling
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and ambitious building designs
have been those for new museums.
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The Museum of African American
History and Culture
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in Washington DC is
one perfect example.
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It uses the technology of today
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to help us celebrate
and understand our past,
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while also planning ahead
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for our environmental
needs of the future.
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On top of all of that,
it just looks awesome!
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[music]
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[Narrator] America's
capital city, Washington DC,
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is home to some of
the most recognisable
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and historic structures
in the world.
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But if you take a short walk
down Constitution Avenue,
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you'll find an extraordinary
new kid on the block,
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albeit one that was a
hundred years in the making.
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[Lonnie] Everything about
this was full of pressure.
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Building a museum
on the National Mall
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within the sight
of the White House,
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but also exploring questions
that Americans traditionally
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don't want to explore.
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[Narrator] A Smithsonian
Institution museum
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that tells the American
story through the lens
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of African American
history and culture.
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I remember my first
time visiting.
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It was like none other.
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The building itself
really resonates with me.
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It's the perfect package
for what's on the inside.
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[Narrator] With an
exterior wrapped
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in a shimmering bronze lattice,
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inspired by a triple-tiered
crown from West Africa,
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inside and out,
this building is unique.
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A triple inverted pyramid.
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If it's complex to say,
it must be complex to build.
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[Narrator] 60% of the structure
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would have to be built
underground, in a swamp,
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100 years after the idea for
a museum was first conceived,
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and facing a deadline to finish
from the 44th president himself.
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[Lonnie] He said to me,
"Can you get this done
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during my tenure?"
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'Cause, as he put it, the
brother wants to cut the ribbon.
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[Narrator] This is
the National Museum of
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African American
History and Culture.
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So, how did they build it?
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[music]
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So the idea of the museum really
began around 1913 to 1915.
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That's when you saw celebrations
of the 50th anniversary
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of the end of the Civil War.
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And they actually
started raising money,
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but then World War I broke out.
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And then in the late '20s,
the Depression hit.
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And really,
it flowed from there.
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Every now and then,
it looked like it might happen.
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But then there was an
assassination or war.
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And so ultimately, it
really wasn't until 2003
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when it became real.
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[Narrator] It took America's
43rd President, George W. Bush,
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to push for the museum.
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He invited Lonnie Bunch
to oversee the project.
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[Lonnie] I realised that if
I could build this museum,
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it would nurture the soul
of all of our ancestors.
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And that ultimately became
too powerful to me to turn down.
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[Narrator] The challenge
is to come up with a museum
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grand enough to sit
on the National Mall,
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which will set a new bar for
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the public institutions
of the future.
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So we had an international
design competition
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with sort of 70 teams that
really wanted to do this.
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Some of the most famous
teams in the world.
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And then what we did is
we narrowed it down to six.
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[Narrator] The winning design
comes from Sir David Adjaye,
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now a celebrated
architect responsible for
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the Sugar Hill Housing
Development in New York
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and the Nobel Peace Centre
in Oslo, Norway.
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But in 2009,
the Ghanaian-British architect
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is still early in his career
and is a relative unknown.
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This will be his biggest
project to date by far.
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When we won the competition,
I was incredibly euphoric.
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I couldn't believe it 'cause I
felt like it was a moment where
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the sort of rocket ship
took off.
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[Lonnie] I was moved
by his understanding of
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how this had to be both
centred in the culture,
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but it had to symbolise
more than one culture.
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It had to be a welcoming place.
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So ultimately,
this soaring design
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was really what got
me very excited.
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Suddenly it sort of dawned
on me that, oh, my God,
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we were gonna have
to make this building
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and that people were gonna
look at this building and say,
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"What the hell were you doing?"
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Or, "What was this
thing in your mind?"
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And I just felt I couldn't fail.
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[applause]
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[Narrator] Then, just
as the ground is broken,
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Secretary Bunch rethinks
the original design brief.
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The initial plan had the
history galleries on one level.
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But I worried a lot about
how can we tell the full story
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in a way that would be engaging.
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And then the exhibit designer,
Ralph Applebaum,
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said to me it would be better
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if we had a tiered
series of galleries
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that would allow
us to go deeper.
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And that was one
of those moments
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where I really wrestled with,
do I just let it go and say,
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we have one floor?
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But I thought about you only
had one shot to get it right.
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So let's do it.
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[music]
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[Narrator]
The new plan is to fit
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the 400,000-square-foot museum
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onto a 5-acre patch of land.
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Four floors will now be built
below-ground, and five above.
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The underground rooms will
go down into the water table,
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and will need double-thick
concrete walls to stay dry.
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Above ground, Sir David
wants the exhibition halls
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to be column free,
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so the upper floors
will be supported by just
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four corner pillars carrying
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the entire load of the building.
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At the front, a 175-foot-long,
super-sized porch
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will house the museum's
stunning entrance.
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Finally, the 230-ton exterior
facade will be modelled on
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an upside-down,
triple-layered corona,
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inspired by a crown from
West Africa's Yoruba culture.
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Instead of digging down 20 feet,
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now the builders
need to go down 80 feet
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to create the additional
floors underground,
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into a swamp.
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[Lonnie] First I was
sort of like, okay, fine.
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I knew this is a swamp.
We'll figure out how to do it.
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But then every day
the water got deeper
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and they couldn't
figure out how to do it.
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This whole end of the Mall
was actually filled in.
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Um, it used to be
where the old Tiber Creek
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ran through here.
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So if you dig 5 feet down,
you hit the water table.
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[Lonnie] And I
remember thinking,
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I'm gonna be known as the guy
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that built the largest
swimming pool on the Mall.
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[Narrator] In order to
hold back the water,
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the foundations are
redesigned to act like a dam.
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Some of the excavation walls
are as wide as I am tall
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and then some.
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So really some almost nearly
8-foot-thick walls down there.
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[Nehemiah] A big challenge
was stopping water
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from getting underneath
the foundations
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and pushing the building up.
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So crews had to extract water,
almost 100 gallons a minute,
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every day during construction
of the foundations.
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This water was replaced
by a slurry mixture
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of cement and sand
injected into the forms
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to then stabilise the site.
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[Narrator] But pumping out the
water could seriously undermine
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the surrounding historic
buildings and structures.
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[Lonnie] We were on
an aquifer of water.
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And the bubble from the
pressure from that water
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is what kept the
Washington Monument up.
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[Zena] So it's all
about making sure
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that we monitor that water level
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to make sure we were never
drawing too much down,
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and if we were, that we were
able to recharge that water
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to get that water table back up.
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[Narrator] It costs
over a million dollars
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just to monitor movement
on the Washington Monument.
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But finally, in 2013, the
foundations are safely in place,
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and attention can turn to the
underground exhibition halls.
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Everything about this
was a logistic challenge.
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[Narrator] In fact, even
planning how to get some
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of the exhibits
into the building
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is proving far from
straightforward.
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I had spent time trying
to find a railroad car
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that would allow us
either to tell a story
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of the Pullman porters
or segregation.
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And a dear friend from my years
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at the Museum of
American History
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had a railroad car out in
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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So I went out there, saw
this segregated railroad car,
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and said, "That's powerful,
I want to have it".
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And then we realised
that it was too big
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to go into the building
if it was enclosed.
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[Narrator] It's 2013,
and in Washington DC,
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spurred on by President Obama,
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work is underway building
the National Museum of
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African American
History and Culture.
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Secretary Bunch has
found its first exhibit,
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a segregated railroad car.
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Now he just needs
to get it to site.
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We had to get special permission
from Homeland Security 'cause
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they were worried
that it was so big,
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somebody could blow it up
and destroy a bridge
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And we had to get
special permission
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which way to come
into Washington.
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And then we realised that it was
too big to go into the building
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if it was enclosed.
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[Narrator] They decide
they're going to have to put it
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where the exhibit will live
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and then build the rest
of the museum around it.
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[Lonnie] We actually put
500-ton cranes on the Mall.
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We couldn't put them too
close to the building because
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they were too heavy
for the walls.
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But they were also placed
on the main gas line of DC.
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So the mayor of the District
said, if you blow this city up,
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you better get out of town.
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We're lifting it up off
the street, towering it over
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and then putting it in place
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where it was gonna
be permanently.
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And that moment told me,
we're gonna pull this off.
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[Narrator] The team's
attention now turns to
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the challenges of building
the five storeys above ground.
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Architect Sir David doesn't
want the exhibition spaces
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filled with any huge
supporting columns.
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[Zena] What's carrying the
structural heft are four cores
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that are composite.
They're steel and concrete.
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It was designed with
these four cores coming up
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out of this major foundation.
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[Narrator]
The four core pillars
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will turn conventional
building rules on their head.
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[Zena] So if you think about
these four cores that extend up
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and then they carry these large
girders that cantilever out,
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00:12:06,987 --> 00:12:10,233
and then the structure
just hangs gently.
244
00:12:10,257 --> 00:12:11,868
The other thing that
allowed us to do
245
00:12:11,892 --> 00:12:16,005
was have an almost
completely column-free space.
246
00:12:16,029 --> 00:12:19,175
[Narrator] The next challenge
is creating the facade.
247
00:12:19,199 --> 00:12:24,180
Designing it is one thing, but
building it is another entirely.
248
00:12:24,204 --> 00:12:26,049
Bronze cladding
looks incredible,
249
00:12:26,073 --> 00:12:28,585
but it also tends to come
with an incredible bill,
250
00:12:28,609 --> 00:12:31,921
especially on this scale.
251
00:12:31,945 --> 00:12:33,857
[Narrator] For
architect Sir David,
252
00:12:33,881 --> 00:12:37,727
the bronze finish
is non-negotiable.
253
00:12:37,751 --> 00:12:41,097
Bronze seemed like a really
powerful material to then use
254
00:12:41,121 --> 00:12:42,632
for the skin of the building,
255
00:12:42,656 --> 00:12:45,935
to create a weight and a dignity
and a connection to history.
256
00:12:45,959 --> 00:12:47,871
But also, there was
a kind of way in which
257
00:12:47,895 --> 00:12:49,172
the bronze of West Africa
258
00:12:49,196 --> 00:12:52,742
would also connect to
the bronze of the Mall.
259
00:12:52,766 --> 00:12:55,478
[Narrator] Thankfully, they
come up with a solution...
260
00:12:55,502 --> 00:12:57,146
Bronze plating.
261
00:12:57,170 --> 00:12:59,749
The actual physical material
of the exterior of the building
262
00:12:59,773 --> 00:13:02,352
is not solid bronze.
[laughs] Yeah.
263
00:13:02,376 --> 00:13:05,321
What the material is that
you see is a cast aluminium.
264
00:13:05,345 --> 00:13:07,957
It's lighter, you know,
it has the durability of
265
00:13:07,981 --> 00:13:09,659
a lifetime structure
266
00:13:09,683 --> 00:13:14,130
that is necessary for
this type of building.
267
00:13:14,154 --> 00:13:16,399
[Narrator] Not only
does it look beautiful,
268
00:13:16,423 --> 00:13:19,602
it also makes the
building more sustainable,
269
00:13:19,626 --> 00:13:23,239
helping control the
temperature inside.
270
00:13:23,263 --> 00:13:25,041
[Brenda]
The whole museum was designed
271
00:13:25,065 --> 00:13:28,344
as a box within a box
within a box.
272
00:13:28,368 --> 00:13:31,614
The second box is
the glass enclosure,
273
00:13:31,638 --> 00:13:36,853
where most of the circulation
and visitor activities happen.
274
00:13:36,877 --> 00:13:40,957
And then the last box
is the corona,
275
00:13:40,981 --> 00:13:43,092
which helps reduce
the amount of solar heat
276
00:13:43,116 --> 00:13:45,862
that comes into the building.
277
00:13:45,886 --> 00:13:47,897
[Narrator] Even the
vast entrance space,
278
00:13:47,921 --> 00:13:49,566
known as the porch,
279
00:13:49,590 --> 00:13:53,803
contributes to the
building's green credentials.
280
00:13:53,827 --> 00:13:56,406
Without a porch,
anybody waiting outside
281
00:13:56,430 --> 00:13:59,242
to be in the museum
in the Washington sun
282
00:13:59,266 --> 00:14:01,978
would be burned alive.
[laughs]
283
00:14:02,002 --> 00:14:06,516
On top of that, we also have
a fountain right at the front.
284
00:14:06,540 --> 00:14:10,219
And when we get
our summer breezes,
285
00:14:10,243 --> 00:14:13,222
the air travels over the water
286
00:14:13,246 --> 00:14:16,426
and creates a microclimate there
287
00:14:16,450 --> 00:14:21,021
that is about 10 degrees
cooler than what it is outside.
288
00:14:22,222 --> 00:14:23,499
[Narrator] The porch, though,
289
00:14:23,523 --> 00:14:26,436
does more than
keep visitors cool.
290
00:14:26,460 --> 00:14:29,372
[Zena] The reason why the porch
is important is because
291
00:14:29,396 --> 00:14:31,908
it has its roots culturally
292
00:14:31,932 --> 00:14:34,844
in Southern African
American sensibility.
293
00:14:34,868 --> 00:14:38,014
The way African Americans
in the South used the porch
294
00:14:38,038 --> 00:14:40,416
truly as a space that welcomes.
295
00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,720
So what we wanted to
do was do, you know,
296
00:14:43,744 --> 00:14:48,858
a really exaggerated expression
of openness and column free,
297
00:14:48,882 --> 00:14:51,118
and a welcome to all space.
298
00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,734
[Narrator] Finally,
on September 24, 2016,
299
00:14:57,758 --> 00:15:02,138
over 100 years after the
original idea was conceived,
300
00:15:02,162 --> 00:15:05,165
President Barrack Obama
opens the museum.
301
00:15:07,434 --> 00:15:10,313
You had President Obama,
President Bush,
302
00:15:10,337 --> 00:15:13,182
the chief justice, you
had the great John Lewis.
303
00:15:13,206 --> 00:15:16,185
And it reminded me of
America at its best,
304
00:15:16,209 --> 00:15:19,088
when you saw Republicans
and Democrats sitting together
305
00:15:19,112 --> 00:15:21,624
to celebrate something
they did together.
306
00:15:21,648 --> 00:15:24,894
That, to me,
was the power of that day.
307
00:15:24,918 --> 00:15:27,063
[Brenda] I cried.
It was uplifting.
308
00:15:27,087 --> 00:15:32,101
It was, oh my God,
you know, what we have done.
309
00:15:32,125 --> 00:15:35,672
It was really, really,
really emotional for me.
310
00:15:35,696 --> 00:15:38,274
[Sir David] What drew me was
really this incredible moment
311
00:15:38,298 --> 00:15:41,811
in history to realise
on the nation's capital
312
00:15:41,835 --> 00:15:45,481
this profoundly important
story that was missing
313
00:15:45,505 --> 00:15:48,175
in the construction of America.
314
00:15:50,477 --> 00:15:52,455
[Narrator] It's so popular,
315
00:15:52,479 --> 00:15:54,424
it's the first
Smithsonian museum
316
00:15:54,448 --> 00:15:59,162
that needs a reservation
and timed tickets.
317
00:15:59,186 --> 00:16:02,131
This stunning futuristic
structure not only serves
318
00:16:02,155 --> 00:16:04,634
as a museum and memorial,
319
00:16:04,658 --> 00:16:07,103
but a blueprint for
how future institutions
320
00:16:07,127 --> 00:16:09,005
can preserve and
present collections
321
00:16:09,029 --> 00:16:11,441
of national importance
322
00:16:11,465 --> 00:16:14,801
in a unique, intelligent
and sustainable way.
323
00:16:20,140 --> 00:16:28,140
[music]
324
00:16:30,350 --> 00:16:31,894
Designing an incredible building
325
00:16:31,918 --> 00:16:34,797
isn't only about
the shiny and new.
326
00:16:34,821 --> 00:16:37,467
Taking an old building
and giving it new life
327
00:16:37,491 --> 00:16:40,403
beyond its original purpose
can be every bit as rewarding
328
00:16:40,427 --> 00:16:43,206
and even more challenging.
329
00:16:43,230 --> 00:16:44,874
When this next building
was originally designed
330
00:16:44,898 --> 00:16:47,310
for the '76 Montreal Olympics,
331
00:16:47,334 --> 00:16:49,278
it was so ahead of its time,
332
00:16:49,302 --> 00:16:52,548
it missed its completion
date by 11 years.
333
00:16:52,572 --> 00:16:56,052
And then it lay empty
for a further 30 years!
334
00:16:56,076 --> 00:17:00,123
So, while it's never gonna win
gold for speediest construction,
335
00:17:00,147 --> 00:17:02,992
as an already iconic
design re-imagined,
336
00:17:03,016 --> 00:17:05,218
this project is
way out in front.
337
00:17:08,421 --> 00:17:10,533
[Narrator] In the
era of regeneration,
338
00:17:10,557 --> 00:17:14,804
the days of simply knocking
a building down are over.
339
00:17:14,828 --> 00:17:19,609
Instead, the idea is to
repurpose and re-imagine,
340
00:17:19,633 --> 00:17:24,247
no matter how far the original
has fallen from grace.
341
00:17:24,271 --> 00:17:27,550
There were birds nesting
inside of the tower.
342
00:17:27,574 --> 00:17:29,585
There was rain pouring in.
343
00:17:29,609 --> 00:17:34,090
There was no water,
no electricity, no nothing.
344
00:17:34,114 --> 00:17:35,558
[Narrator] In Montreal, Canada,
345
00:17:35,582 --> 00:17:38,961
that's exactly what
they decided to do...
346
00:17:38,985 --> 00:17:42,999
Take a tower that the city had
seen as a failure for decades
347
00:17:43,023 --> 00:17:46,102
and turn it into a shining swan.
348
00:17:46,126 --> 00:17:47,770
It took four years
349
00:17:47,794 --> 00:17:52,141
and pushed the architects
and engineers to their limits.
350
00:17:52,165 --> 00:17:54,243
One of the challenges
of actually articulating
351
00:17:54,267 --> 00:17:58,347
that vision was the
actual construction site.
352
00:17:58,371 --> 00:18:00,917
It was really like
landing a spaceship
353
00:18:00,941 --> 00:18:03,486
on an aircraft carrier.
354
00:18:03,510 --> 00:18:04,954
[Sean] Once you get
here, you realise
355
00:18:04,978 --> 00:18:07,390
that nothing is straight.
Everything is crooked.
356
00:18:07,414 --> 00:18:11,451
Everything is curved.
Everything is enormous.
357
00:18:13,553 --> 00:18:15,965
[Narrator] But the result of
all the innovative thinking,
358
00:18:15,989 --> 00:18:18,367
ingenuity and collaboration
359
00:18:18,391 --> 00:18:20,469
was the regeneration
of an iconic building
360
00:18:20,493 --> 00:18:23,372
on the verge of demolition.
361
00:18:23,396 --> 00:18:25,899
[speaking French]
362
00:18:34,608 --> 00:18:37,520
[Narrator] The largest
inclined tower in the world,
363
00:18:37,544 --> 00:18:42,191
designed as an avant-garde
masterpiece, was reborn.
364
00:18:42,215 --> 00:18:45,127
This is the Montreal Tower.
365
00:18:45,151 --> 00:18:46,953
So, how did they build it?
366
00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,579
[music]
367
00:18:52,603 --> 00:18:54,748
[Narrator] The French-speaking
city of Montreal
368
00:18:54,772 --> 00:18:56,283
in Quebec, Canada
369
00:18:56,307 --> 00:18:59,186
is an island on
the St Lawrence River.
370
00:18:59,210 --> 00:19:01,822
Nicknamed the
City of a Hundred Steeples,
371
00:19:01,846 --> 00:19:06,326
its mix of gothic, art deco
and modernist architecture
372
00:19:06,350 --> 00:19:10,964
has contributed to the
city's ever-changing skyline.
373
00:19:10,988 --> 00:19:13,767
One of the most important
additions was the new centre
374
00:19:13,791 --> 00:19:18,572
built to host the
1976 Olympic games.
375
00:19:18,596 --> 00:19:21,441
Radical French architect
Roger Taillibert
376
00:19:21,465 --> 00:19:24,277
designed a futuristic
sports village
377
00:19:24,301 --> 00:19:29,449
with a stadium, velodrome
and aquatic centre.
378
00:19:29,473 --> 00:19:33,086
At its heart, he planned
to build a tower
379
00:19:33,110 --> 00:19:39,250
575 feet tall and inclined at
an almost impossible 45 degrees.
380
00:19:41,285 --> 00:19:44,522
[speaking French]
381
00:20:01,672 --> 00:20:03,383
[Narrator] The Olympic arena
was built in time
382
00:20:03,407 --> 00:20:07,154
for the 1976 opening ceremony.
383
00:20:07,178 --> 00:20:10,891
Unfortunately, its
futuristic tower wasn't.
384
00:20:10,915 --> 00:20:13,851
In fact, it took another
11 years to build.
385
00:20:17,288 --> 00:20:19,900
By then, the project
had run out of money
386
00:20:19,924 --> 00:20:22,002
and the tower was abandoned,
387
00:20:22,026 --> 00:20:25,138
lying empty for 25 years
388
00:20:25,162 --> 00:20:26,473
until the park authorities
389
00:20:26,497 --> 00:20:30,343
decided something
needed to be done.
390
00:20:30,367 --> 00:20:32,813
[Cedric] In 2012,
the new administration
391
00:20:32,837 --> 00:20:36,316
that was at the Olympic Park
was there and said, okay,
392
00:20:36,340 --> 00:20:39,219
we are at the turning
point right now.
393
00:20:39,243 --> 00:20:43,457
We need to stop waiting
for the government
394
00:20:43,481 --> 00:20:47,327
to say and to do something
about the park and the stadium.
395
00:20:47,351 --> 00:20:52,232
We need to show the people
what are the possibilities
396
00:20:52,256 --> 00:20:55,936
of that equipment.
397
00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:57,237
[Narrator] They decide to turn
398
00:20:57,261 --> 00:20:59,406
the world's tallest
inclined tower
399
00:20:59,430 --> 00:21:03,267
into a state-of-the-art
$200 million office block.
400
00:21:05,436 --> 00:21:07,781
60% of its curved
concrete exterior
401
00:21:07,805 --> 00:21:11,818
will be replaced with
3 miles of flat glass,
402
00:21:11,842 --> 00:21:14,855
forming a curtain wall.
403
00:21:14,879 --> 00:21:18,625
Inside, the building will be
opened up to create 14 floors
404
00:21:18,649 --> 00:21:21,552
of modern,
open-plan office space.
405
00:21:23,454 --> 00:21:25,198
And the rooftop bar
will give visitors
406
00:21:25,222 --> 00:21:27,834
uninterrupted views of the city
407
00:21:27,858 --> 00:21:30,661
to celebrate this
landmark once again.
408
00:21:32,796 --> 00:21:35,275
But to pull this off,
the team has to calculate
409
00:21:35,299 --> 00:21:38,078
how to work with the
existing structure...
410
00:21:38,102 --> 00:21:40,180
No easy task.
411
00:21:40,204 --> 00:21:41,681
What we realised on
this project is that
412
00:21:41,705 --> 00:21:43,483
not one floor would be the same,
413
00:21:43,507 --> 00:21:45,418
not one facade
would be the same,
414
00:21:45,442 --> 00:21:47,287
and that standard
methods of doing the work
415
00:21:47,311 --> 00:21:50,490
would not be possible for us.
416
00:21:50,514 --> 00:21:52,292
[Narrator] Despite the
obvious challenges,
417
00:21:52,316 --> 00:21:57,063
in spring 2015, work
starts on the building.
418
00:21:57,087 --> 00:22:01,034
The main job is going to be
creating the glass curtain wall,
419
00:22:01,058 --> 00:22:05,205
which involves removing
450 enormous concrete panels
420
00:22:05,229 --> 00:22:08,909
that cover over
half the tower...
421
00:22:08,933 --> 00:22:13,380
and then replacing them with
3 miles of reinforced glass.
422
00:22:13,404 --> 00:22:16,674
All of that requires
a very special crane.
423
00:22:17,775 --> 00:22:20,153
[music]
424
00:22:20,177 --> 00:22:22,947
[speaking French]
425
00:22:27,751 --> 00:22:29,563
[Narrator]
The 600-foot-high crane,
426
00:22:29,587 --> 00:22:31,464
nicknamed The Giraffe,
427
00:22:31,488 --> 00:22:35,001
is so tall, it's brought
to the site in pieces.
428
00:22:35,025 --> 00:22:36,970
And the challenge then
is finding a space
429
00:22:36,994 --> 00:22:39,306
to put it together.
430
00:22:39,330 --> 00:22:41,007
Actually, it's a bit
complicated to find
431
00:22:41,031 --> 00:22:43,076
the optimal position.
432
00:22:43,100 --> 00:22:47,080
We realised that we needed to
go through the sports centre,
433
00:22:47,104 --> 00:22:50,507
and that also we were going
to go through the roof.
434
00:22:52,543 --> 00:22:55,622
That was actually
a pivotal moment for us.
435
00:22:55,646 --> 00:22:57,424
I still remember that meeting
when we had to tell them
436
00:22:57,448 --> 00:22:59,059
that we're going to go there.
437
00:22:59,083 --> 00:23:02,095
The reaction wasn't,
of course, too optimistic.
438
00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:04,531
They told us it was impossible.
439
00:23:04,555 --> 00:23:06,800
[Narrator] After some
delicate negotiations,
440
00:23:06,824 --> 00:23:09,869
they agree to close
part of the sports centre,
441
00:23:09,893 --> 00:23:11,871
and a hole is punched
in the roof for the crane
442
00:23:11,895 --> 00:23:15,366
to go through and up
600 feet in the air.
443
00:23:16,233 --> 00:23:19,103
[speaking French]
444
00:23:27,544 --> 00:23:30,724
[Narrator] A 700-ton
mobile crane is brought on site
445
00:23:30,748 --> 00:23:34,351
to lift the huge sections
of tower crane into place...
446
00:23:40,691 --> 00:23:42,802
starting with the base unit,
447
00:23:42,826 --> 00:23:45,372
which is slowly and very
carefully lowered through
448
00:23:45,396 --> 00:23:47,398
the Olympic stadium roof.
449
00:23:48,932 --> 00:23:51,001
[speaking French]
450
00:23:54,905 --> 00:23:57,517
[Narrator] After 10 long days
of precision manoeuvring,
451
00:23:57,541 --> 00:24:00,544
the tower crane
sections are assembled.
452
00:24:07,051 --> 00:24:11,388
Working at such extreme heights
is incredibly time consuming.
453
00:24:12,956 --> 00:24:16,960
The crane operator takes half an
hour just to climb to his cabin.
454
00:24:19,697 --> 00:24:21,799
It's not a job for
the faint hearted.
455
00:24:23,500 --> 00:24:26,737
[speaking French]
456
00:24:42,653 --> 00:24:44,998
[Narrator] It takes nerves
of steel and a steady hand
457
00:24:45,022 --> 00:24:47,634
to manoeuvre the
crane into position
458
00:24:47,658 --> 00:24:51,128
and lift the concrete panels
hundreds of feet below.
459
00:24:53,197 --> 00:24:55,909
[Sean] These panels are all
anchored to the structure.
460
00:24:55,933 --> 00:24:58,445
Some of these are almost
8 metres high
461
00:24:58,469 --> 00:25:01,214
and weigh 5 tons.
462
00:25:01,238 --> 00:25:04,084
[Narrator] Before they can be
removed, every anchor point
463
00:25:04,108 --> 00:25:08,579
has to be cut through with a
specialist diamond wire bandsaw.
464
00:25:10,214 --> 00:25:12,883
[speaking French]
465
00:25:28,732 --> 00:25:30,577
[Narrator] The construction
team on the Montreal Tower
466
00:25:30,601 --> 00:25:34,280
finally finish removing
all 450 concrete panels
467
00:25:34,304 --> 00:25:37,350
from the exterior.
468
00:25:37,374 --> 00:25:39,385
Now they have to
prepare the tower
469
00:25:39,409 --> 00:25:41,845
for the glass curtain walls
that will replace them.
470
00:25:43,714 --> 00:25:46,784
[Pierre] [speaking French]
471
00:25:55,759 --> 00:25:58,705
[Narrator] As work begins
on fitting the glass panels,
472
00:25:58,729 --> 00:26:01,207
they're stress-tested
to make sure
473
00:26:01,231 --> 00:26:03,643
they're strong enough
to deal with the extremes
474
00:26:03,667 --> 00:26:07,547
of Montreal's weather.
475
00:26:07,571 --> 00:26:09,649
In a typical office tower,
476
00:26:09,673 --> 00:26:11,451
the curtain walls are vertical.
477
00:26:11,475 --> 00:26:12,986
In this case,
they were on an angle,
478
00:26:13,010 --> 00:26:14,821
which means they're
almost like a roof.
479
00:26:14,845 --> 00:26:17,924
And when it rains and snows,
they don't react the same way
480
00:26:17,948 --> 00:26:20,894
as when there are
typical office tower.
481
00:26:20,918 --> 00:26:24,364
So in order to be able to
have a quality curtain wall,
482
00:26:24,388 --> 00:26:25,598
different tests were done...
483
00:26:25,622 --> 00:26:27,700
Wind tests and rain tests...
To make sure
484
00:26:27,724 --> 00:26:30,436
that there was no infiltration.
485
00:26:30,460 --> 00:26:32,539
[Narrator] The tests confirm
that the glass panels
486
00:26:32,563 --> 00:26:35,408
are watertight and
wind resistant,
487
00:26:35,432 --> 00:26:38,578
so installation continues.
488
00:26:38,602 --> 00:26:41,247
But at the observatory on top,
489
00:26:41,271 --> 00:26:45,051
engineers face a new challenge.
490
00:26:45,075 --> 00:26:47,053
[Sean] The problem was
with the south facade,
491
00:26:47,077 --> 00:26:51,391
because that's the facade where
you have the 45-degree angle.
492
00:26:51,415 --> 00:26:53,126
So the cranes don't have access,
493
00:26:53,150 --> 00:26:56,029
you have all the cables
that hold the roof.
494
00:26:56,053 --> 00:27:00,066
And since you're working
on the 45-degree angle,
495
00:27:00,090 --> 00:27:04,094
well, the only way to get there
is with the workers on ropes.
496
00:27:08,034 --> 00:27:10,612
[Narrator] It's 2012,
and in Montreal, Canada,
497
00:27:10,636 --> 00:27:12,981
a team of specialist
steeplejacks is brought in
498
00:27:13,005 --> 00:27:17,753
to work from fixed lines
at extreme heights.
499
00:27:17,777 --> 00:27:21,156
They begin installing
the glass panels one by one.
500
00:27:21,180 --> 00:27:23,325
But it's not easy.
501
00:27:23,349 --> 00:27:26,819
[speaking French]
502
00:27:33,659 --> 00:27:38,674
[music]
503
00:27:38,698 --> 00:27:41,477
[Narrator] Two and a half years
after work began,
504
00:27:41,501 --> 00:27:45,881
four decades since the tower
was first scheduled to open,
505
00:27:45,905 --> 00:27:47,449
the facade is transformed
506
00:27:47,473 --> 00:27:51,987
with over 3 miles of
reinforced glass curtain wall.
507
00:27:52,011 --> 00:27:54,857
A thoroughly modern
reinterpretation,
508
00:27:54,881 --> 00:27:58,160
it's now fit for
the 21st century.
509
00:27:58,184 --> 00:28:00,729
When you transform
and re-clad a building,
510
00:28:00,753 --> 00:28:02,998
it's like giving
new clothes to a person.
511
00:28:03,022 --> 00:28:07,226
And in a way,
you give a new identity.
512
00:28:09,495 --> 00:28:11,607
[Narrator] After
decades of neglect,
513
00:28:11,631 --> 00:28:14,643
overcoming adversity
and controversy,
514
00:28:14,667 --> 00:28:18,604
Montreal's Olympic Tower
re-opens in 2018.
515
00:28:20,173 --> 00:28:22,851
Now home to hundreds
of office workers,
516
00:28:22,875 --> 00:28:24,920
it combines creative workspaces
517
00:28:24,944 --> 00:28:26,879
with some of the
best views in town.
518
00:28:29,248 --> 00:28:33,619
[speaking French]
519
00:28:43,896 --> 00:28:46,842
[Narrator] Completely
reimagined and repurposed,
520
00:28:46,866 --> 00:28:50,145
the tower stands
proud once again,
521
00:28:50,169 --> 00:28:53,715
reaffirming its place
on the Montreal skyline
522
00:28:53,739 --> 00:28:56,943
for now and for
generations to come.
523
00:29:00,046 --> 00:29:08,046
[music]
524
00:29:09,355 --> 00:29:13,068
We head 3700 miles
northeast now to Norway,
525
00:29:13,092 --> 00:29:15,337
a country I've learned
loves nothing better
526
00:29:15,361 --> 00:29:18,540
than impossible challenges
of design and engineering.
527
00:29:18,564 --> 00:29:21,577
Now, this next building was not
so much a construction project
528
00:29:21,601 --> 00:29:24,580
as a super-sized game
of precision Jenga
529
00:29:24,604 --> 00:29:27,816
played with five 460-feet-long,
530
00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,452
3-storey-high building blocks
531
00:29:30,476 --> 00:29:32,454
that project LCD
art installations
532
00:29:32,478 --> 00:29:36,091
from their massive 100-foot
cantilevered overhangs.
533
00:29:36,115 --> 00:29:37,659
What?
534
00:29:37,683 --> 00:29:39,261
Look, Norway gets cold.
535
00:29:39,285 --> 00:29:42,755
And this is one building
that is totally ice cool.
536
00:29:46,993 --> 00:29:49,204
[Narrator] The
idyllic Oslofjord,
537
00:29:49,228 --> 00:29:52,374
with its dense forest
and mirrored surface water,
538
00:29:52,398 --> 00:29:55,711
reaches through Norway
up to the shoreline of Oslo,
539
00:29:55,735 --> 00:29:57,246
the country's capital,
540
00:29:57,270 --> 00:30:00,115
one of the happiest
places on earth.
541
00:30:00,139 --> 00:30:02,217
It's also one of
the most exciting,
542
00:30:02,241 --> 00:30:06,788
especially when it
comes to striking buildings.
543
00:30:06,812 --> 00:30:09,157
So when Norway's
energy giant, Equinor,
544
00:30:09,181 --> 00:30:12,027
was looking to build
a new HQ there,
545
00:30:12,051 --> 00:30:15,097
it was always going
to be something special.
546
00:30:15,121 --> 00:30:18,224
But what designers came
up with was extraordinary.
547
00:30:21,561 --> 00:30:23,505
The result is mind blowing.
548
00:30:23,529 --> 00:30:25,340
[Narrator] A building that
could withstand temperatures
549
00:30:25,364 --> 00:30:29,945
of up to 95 degrees in summer
and minus 13 in the winter.
550
00:30:29,969 --> 00:30:32,481
It takes a lot of
precision engineering
551
00:30:32,505 --> 00:30:36,251
to make it look this casual,
but work so well.
552
00:30:36,275 --> 00:30:38,487
[Narrator] It had a roof
where no two pieces of glass
553
00:30:38,511 --> 00:30:40,489
were the same.
554
00:30:40,513 --> 00:30:42,958
We weren't sure
that we could manage to build
555
00:30:42,982 --> 00:30:46,061
the glasses that the
architects had drawn.
556
00:30:46,085 --> 00:30:47,629
[Narrator] Five gravity-defying,
557
00:30:47,653 --> 00:30:51,667
horizontally stacked skyscrapers
that hang into space.
558
00:30:51,691 --> 00:30:54,236
This giant stack
of boxes and slopes
559
00:30:54,260 --> 00:30:57,239
seems to teeter dangerously
over the street.
560
00:30:57,263 --> 00:31:00,409
[Narrator] This is the
Equinor Building in Oslo.
561
00:31:00,433 --> 00:31:02,802
So, how did they build it?
562
00:31:07,073 --> 00:31:10,252
It's Norway, 2009, and Equinor,
563
00:31:10,276 --> 00:31:13,088
one of the country's
largest energy producers,
564
00:31:13,112 --> 00:31:16,725
launches a competition to come
up with an extraordinary design
565
00:31:16,749 --> 00:31:20,395
for an eco-friendly HQ.
566
00:31:20,419 --> 00:31:24,733
Forty practices enter, including
local architects A-Lab,
567
00:31:24,757 --> 00:31:30,372
responsible for Oslo's iconic
Barcode District skyline
568
00:31:30,396 --> 00:31:32,674
In an industry
badly hit 10 months earlier
569
00:31:32,698 --> 00:31:35,744
by the 2008 financial crash,
570
00:31:35,768 --> 00:31:38,780
there's a lot riding
on their pitch.
571
00:31:38,804 --> 00:31:40,949
It was a huge project for us
572
00:31:40,973 --> 00:31:44,386
and an important competition
to win.
573
00:31:44,410 --> 00:31:45,854
[Narrator] The winning
design is to be built
574
00:31:45,878 --> 00:31:48,090
on the site of
the old Oslo Airport
575
00:31:48,114 --> 00:31:50,859
on the Fornebu Peninsula.
576
00:31:50,883 --> 00:31:53,395
Opened in 1939, in
the Second World War
577
00:31:53,419 --> 00:31:57,232
it was taken as a
strategic Luftwaffe base.
578
00:31:57,256 --> 00:32:01,570
Post war, it became Oslo's
primary international airport
579
00:32:01,594 --> 00:32:05,807
before finding itself too
small for modern airliners.
580
00:32:05,831 --> 00:32:08,877
In 1998, it was closed down.
581
00:32:08,901 --> 00:32:14,149
This is the last fjord
site as it was then,
582
00:32:14,173 --> 00:32:17,519
an open site with a great aspect
583
00:32:17,543 --> 00:32:20,589
towards the Oslo fjord.
584
00:32:20,613 --> 00:32:23,759
[Narrator] It's an incredible
location on the water's edge,
585
00:32:23,783 --> 00:32:26,261
and the architects have come up
with a stunning design
586
00:32:26,285 --> 00:32:29,698
that must overcome
many challenges.
587
00:32:29,722 --> 00:32:31,500
The ground is unstable,
588
00:32:31,524 --> 00:32:34,002
so they will need to dig
deep and strong foundations
589
00:32:34,026 --> 00:32:36,204
to support the building.
590
00:32:36,228 --> 00:32:39,207
The central hub will be
placed in a huge atrium
591
00:32:39,231 --> 00:32:43,011
that will be built around
four giant concrete cores
592
00:32:43,035 --> 00:32:47,115
and wrapped in a curving
propeller-shaped glass roof.
593
00:32:47,139 --> 00:32:50,018
But planning restrictions
limit how high they can go,
594
00:32:50,042 --> 00:32:52,220
so they will build out sideways,
595
00:32:52,244 --> 00:32:55,657
stacking five horizontal
office blocks at angles,
596
00:32:55,681 --> 00:33:01,029
with the top three positioned so
they hang perilously into space.
597
00:33:01,053 --> 00:33:03,065
The result, a 9-storey building
598
00:33:03,089 --> 00:33:05,801
that resembles a
starfish from above,
599
00:33:05,825 --> 00:33:08,036
which allows them to minimise
how much ground space
600
00:33:08,060 --> 00:33:10,105
the offices cover
601
00:33:10,129 --> 00:33:13,675
and maximise the space for
an impressive park beneath.
602
00:33:13,699 --> 00:33:15,544
Stacking the blocks will
also make the most of
603
00:33:15,568 --> 00:33:19,414
the spectacular location
on the edge of Oslofjord.
604
00:33:19,438 --> 00:33:21,416
Everyone gets this
beautiful view.
605
00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:23,752
Whether it's diagonally
or straight out of
606
00:33:23,776 --> 00:33:25,620
the ends of the building,
607
00:33:25,644 --> 00:33:29,224
you utilise these views
in every single direction.
608
00:33:29,248 --> 00:33:31,493
[Narrator] It does everything
the client's looking for
609
00:33:31,517 --> 00:33:33,528
and more. And in 2010,
610
00:33:33,552 --> 00:33:36,531
A-Lab's design
wins the competition.
611
00:33:36,555 --> 00:33:42,161
This is a mind-blowing feat of
both engineering and planning.
612
00:33:44,163 --> 00:33:48,310
[Narrator] Early in 2011,
work starts to clear the site.
613
00:33:48,334 --> 00:33:51,012
The catch, though, is that
the client needs the new HQ
614
00:33:51,036 --> 00:33:54,273
built and operational
in just 20 months.
615
00:33:55,441 --> 00:34:02,581
[music]
616
00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,579
[Narrator] It's 2011,
and in Oslo, Norway,
617
00:34:08,603 --> 00:34:11,082
the teams are starting
work on a new HQ
618
00:34:11,106 --> 00:34:14,685
that has to be finished
in 20 months.
619
00:34:14,709 --> 00:34:16,120
From the beginning of
the project,
620
00:34:16,144 --> 00:34:20,424
no one really realised
the incredible requirements
621
00:34:20,448 --> 00:34:21,992
that it put everyone under.
622
00:34:22,016 --> 00:34:24,495
This is the largest
project we have ever built
623
00:34:24,519 --> 00:34:27,431
and it was the shortest
construction time. [laughs]
624
00:34:27,455 --> 00:34:30,334
[Narrator] That's not
the project's only challenge.
625
00:34:30,358 --> 00:34:34,905
They need to create over 200,000
square feet of floor space.
626
00:34:34,929 --> 00:34:36,807
But planning restrictions mean
they're only allowed
627
00:34:36,831 --> 00:34:39,410
to build to 120 feet.
628
00:34:39,434 --> 00:34:43,247
A tower was out of the
question, quite simply.
629
00:34:43,271 --> 00:34:45,082
[Narrator] To solve the problem,
630
00:34:45,106 --> 00:34:48,085
they turn to an engineering
principle called a cantilever.
631
00:34:48,109 --> 00:34:49,854
The actual physical building
632
00:34:49,878 --> 00:34:52,123
and construction of
the cantilevers
633
00:34:52,147 --> 00:34:55,393
was therefore one of the
most important elements of it.
634
00:34:55,417 --> 00:34:57,528
[Narrator] This allows huge
sections of the building
635
00:34:57,552 --> 00:35:00,431
to be supported at just one end.
636
00:35:00,455 --> 00:35:01,899
[Corina] In a normal building,
637
00:35:01,923 --> 00:35:04,335
weight is distributed evenly
across the foundations.
638
00:35:04,359 --> 00:35:07,304
But this building is
like an unbalanced seesaw
639
00:35:07,328 --> 00:35:11,308
pushing down on one side
and pulling up on the other.
640
00:35:11,332 --> 00:35:13,878
These opposing forces are
going to put the foundations
641
00:35:13,902 --> 00:35:17,181
under a serious amount of
strain.
642
00:35:17,205 --> 00:35:18,749
[Narrator] If the foundations
aren't strong enough
643
00:35:18,773 --> 00:35:21,118
to counteract the
combined forces,
644
00:35:21,142 --> 00:35:24,221
the huge office
blocks will fall.
645
00:35:24,245 --> 00:35:27,258
The team has to make
sure that doesn't happen.
646
00:35:27,282 --> 00:35:29,393
The excavation work
was significant
647
00:35:29,417 --> 00:35:32,596
and went a long way
down into the bedrock.
648
00:35:32,620 --> 00:35:36,801
The preparation involved also
stabilising parts of the rock,
649
00:35:36,825 --> 00:35:40,538
which is quite a weak
Oslo slate, as it's called.
650
00:35:40,562 --> 00:35:41,672
[Narrator]
In order to strengthen
651
00:35:41,696 --> 00:35:43,274
the looser slate sections,
652
00:35:43,298 --> 00:35:45,843
they will have to drive
piles deep into the bedrock
653
00:35:45,867 --> 00:35:48,779
before reinforcing them.
654
00:35:48,803 --> 00:35:52,774
Despite the tight schedule, this
is one job that can't be rushed.
655
00:35:54,576 --> 00:35:56,687
The winters in Oslo can
see temperatures dropping
656
00:35:56,711 --> 00:35:59,089
to minus 10 degrees,
657
00:35:59,113 --> 00:36:02,293
and if there's one thing
uncured concrete doesn't like,
658
00:36:02,317 --> 00:36:04,762
it's the cold.
659
00:36:04,786 --> 00:36:06,464
[Peter] We started
here in January,
660
00:36:06,488 --> 00:36:09,300
and that was a very
cold winter that first year.
661
00:36:09,324 --> 00:36:12,069
So that we had to mount
the quite big areas
662
00:36:12,093 --> 00:36:14,929
without actually
pouring concrete.
663
00:36:17,131 --> 00:36:19,376
[Narrator] By spring,
they're ready to take on
664
00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:21,312
their next challenge...
665
00:36:21,336 --> 00:36:25,173
Counteracting the extreme forces
from the cantilevered design.
666
00:36:26,541 --> 00:36:30,187
This is achieved by creating an
enormous skeleton from steel,
667
00:36:30,211 --> 00:36:33,657
which will carry the forces from
the huge blocks, or lamells,
668
00:36:33,681 --> 00:36:35,292
into the centre,
669
00:36:35,316 --> 00:36:37,728
where they will be channelled
down the four giant cores
670
00:36:37,752 --> 00:36:39,830
to the foundations.
671
00:36:39,854 --> 00:36:41,565
Steel construction on this scale
672
00:36:41,589 --> 00:36:44,869
is not something the
team has done before.
673
00:36:44,893 --> 00:36:46,403
[Peter] This is the
first time ever build
674
00:36:46,427 --> 00:36:47,705
construction like this.
675
00:36:47,729 --> 00:36:52,376
And, uh, so we learn
a lot about steel constructions
676
00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,246
that are more complicated
than this, uh,
677
00:36:55,270 --> 00:36:58,716
this building than
other normal buildings.
678
00:36:58,740 --> 00:37:00,351
[Narrator] With
time of the essence,
679
00:37:00,375 --> 00:37:03,521
they know they have to find
ways of speeding up the build.
680
00:37:03,545 --> 00:37:07,224
The contractor immediately
saw that prefabrication
681
00:37:07,248 --> 00:37:11,896
was the only way to create such
a building so fast on site.
682
00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:14,665
[Narrator] They decide
a whopping 1600 elements
683
00:37:14,689 --> 00:37:16,233
can be made off site.
684
00:37:16,257 --> 00:37:18,269
But that involves
precision planning
685
00:37:18,293 --> 00:37:20,437
to keep things on schedule.
686
00:37:20,461 --> 00:37:22,506
What was incredible
about coming to site
687
00:37:22,530 --> 00:37:25,209
was having to deal
with different stages
688
00:37:25,233 --> 00:37:29,113
in the construction
process simultaneously.
689
00:37:29,137 --> 00:37:31,949
The fit-out of the lower
lamells was happening
690
00:37:31,973 --> 00:37:34,718
while the steel truss
for the top lamell
691
00:37:34,742 --> 00:37:37,021
was being hoist into position.
692
00:37:37,045 --> 00:37:38,789
[Narrator] The steel elements
arrive from factories
693
00:37:38,813 --> 00:37:42,159
like a pre-made
monster Erector set.
694
00:37:42,183 --> 00:37:45,829
Once on site, each piece
needs very precise welding
695
00:37:45,853 --> 00:37:49,066
to create the huge framework.
696
00:37:49,090 --> 00:37:50,568
To stay on schedule,
697
00:37:50,592 --> 00:37:53,537
they brave temperatures
frequently below freezing.
698
00:37:53,561 --> 00:37:55,973
But welding also
doesn't like the cold
699
00:37:55,997 --> 00:37:57,942
as it can leave it weakened.
700
00:37:57,966 --> 00:38:00,778
It's yet another
headache for the team.
701
00:38:00,802 --> 00:38:03,280
We build the big
tents on site there
702
00:38:03,304 --> 00:38:05,849
to try to get the
climate because, uh...
703
00:38:05,873 --> 00:38:08,085
there was huge welding job.
704
00:38:08,109 --> 00:38:10,254
And that has to be accurate,
705
00:38:10,278 --> 00:38:14,282
and we have to control every
part of the welding process.
706
00:38:15,316 --> 00:38:16,460
[Narrator] Now they
need to carefully put
707
00:38:16,484 --> 00:38:19,563
each of the hundreds
of pieces in place.
708
00:38:19,587 --> 00:38:22,900
This project too calls
for a huge crane.
709
00:38:22,924 --> 00:38:25,436
It takes 54 trucks
under police escort
710
00:38:25,460 --> 00:38:31,375
to bring the crane in
pieces, totalling 1250 tons.
711
00:38:31,399 --> 00:38:34,945
Once there, they need a
vast 2000-square-feet area
712
00:38:34,969 --> 00:38:38,649
to build a large enough
base to put it on.
713
00:38:38,673 --> 00:38:43,153
The crane could actually
lift... I think it was 60 tons
714
00:38:43,177 --> 00:38:46,790
on 120 metres from the centre
of where it was standing.
715
00:38:46,814 --> 00:38:49,259
And without that crane,
we couldn't be able to assemble
716
00:38:49,283 --> 00:38:52,396
this building in that
short construction time.
717
00:38:52,420 --> 00:38:54,298
[Narrator] Time
may be running out,
718
00:38:54,322 --> 00:38:58,068
but the main structure is at
last beginning to take shape.
719
00:38:58,092 --> 00:39:00,504
[Charlie] The biggest day for us
720
00:39:00,528 --> 00:39:05,676
was lifting the last piece of
the truss onto the top lamell.
721
00:39:05,700 --> 00:39:10,214
Strangely, the last piece
was the one furthest away
722
00:39:10,238 --> 00:39:13,350
from the production area, on
the other side of the building.
723
00:39:13,374 --> 00:39:17,187
So the crane had to
lift up 100 metres
724
00:39:17,211 --> 00:39:19,456
and over 100 metres.
725
00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:22,960
It was possibly the most
dramatic bit of construction
726
00:39:22,984 --> 00:39:25,462
that I will ever see.
727
00:39:25,486 --> 00:39:28,332
[Narrator] It's a precision
job for the crane operator,
728
00:39:28,356 --> 00:39:32,293
dropping that final piece
in exactly the right place.
729
00:39:34,328 --> 00:39:36,940
The next challenge is creating
the roof that will wrap around
730
00:39:36,964 --> 00:39:39,376
the central atrium.
731
00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:41,745
To maximise a sense of openness,
732
00:39:41,769 --> 00:39:45,649
the architects want to use the
fewest columns to hold it up.
733
00:39:45,673 --> 00:39:49,987
So they come up with a
very special glass structure.
734
00:39:50,011 --> 00:39:51,989
So it's a bit like
a soap bubble,
735
00:39:52,013 --> 00:39:54,558
if you can imagine
creating that soap bubble
736
00:39:54,582 --> 00:39:56,393
and then twisting it.
737
00:39:56,417 --> 00:39:59,596
The soap bubble description
refers to the super clever way
738
00:39:59,620 --> 00:40:03,734
a thin layer of soapy water
will stretch to cover an area
739
00:40:03,758 --> 00:40:08,172
and then contract to the minimum
size it can without bursting
740
00:40:08,196 --> 00:40:10,407
[Narrator] The pioneering
architect Frei Otto
741
00:40:10,431 --> 00:40:13,010
was the first person to
experiment with this idea
742
00:40:13,034 --> 00:40:15,646
in the 1960s.
743
00:40:15,670 --> 00:40:19,349
Given a set of fixed points,
he noted soap film will spread
744
00:40:19,373 --> 00:40:24,488
to offer the smallest
achievable surface area,
745
00:40:24,512 --> 00:40:28,258
which he most famously used
for Munich's Olympic Park.
746
00:40:28,282 --> 00:40:30,194
This technique means
the roof will weigh
747
00:40:30,218 --> 00:40:32,429
the least possible amount
748
00:40:32,453 --> 00:40:35,299
and reduce the additional
load on the supports.
749
00:40:35,323 --> 00:40:37,301
Perhaps more
importantly, though,
750
00:40:37,325 --> 00:40:40,704
it also allows them to create
something really unique...
751
00:40:40,728 --> 00:40:42,406
but untested.
752
00:40:42,430 --> 00:40:45,142
It was a risk because this
hadn't been done before
753
00:40:45,166 --> 00:40:48,245
in Northern Europe.
754
00:40:48,269 --> 00:40:49,713
[Narrator] The twisting
structure means that
755
00:40:49,737 --> 00:40:53,784
no two pieces of glass or
steel frame are the same.
756
00:40:53,808 --> 00:40:55,419
So constructing it is like
757
00:40:55,443 --> 00:40:59,957
piecing a huge jigsaw puzzle
together at great height.
758
00:40:59,981 --> 00:41:02,059
None of the glasses
are actually curved,
759
00:41:02,083 --> 00:41:04,161
but all the nodes on the steel
760
00:41:04,185 --> 00:41:07,798
and all the glasses
have a different shape.
761
00:41:07,822 --> 00:41:10,033
[Narrator] The roof also needs
to be designed and engineered
762
00:41:10,057 --> 00:41:12,136
to cope with snow.
763
00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:15,272
Oslo gets a lot of it.
764
00:41:15,296 --> 00:41:17,174
And that will create
a huge amount of weight
765
00:41:17,198 --> 00:41:20,110
pushing down on the glass.
766
00:41:20,134 --> 00:41:21,945
The engineers have to
run computer models
767
00:41:21,969 --> 00:41:23,680
to perfect the design
768
00:41:23,704 --> 00:41:25,449
and ensure the roof will
be able to stand up to
769
00:41:25,473 --> 00:41:29,086
the worst of Norway's winters.
770
00:41:29,110 --> 00:41:33,090
The result is both
beautiful and strong.
771
00:41:33,114 --> 00:41:36,593
[Charlie] The total snow load
in the corners of the glass roof
772
00:41:36,617 --> 00:41:39,129
is the equivalent of
an articulated truck
773
00:41:39,153 --> 00:41:42,299
being parked on that roof.
774
00:41:42,323 --> 00:41:44,701
[Narrator] The ingenuity
does not stop there.
775
00:41:44,725 --> 00:41:48,705
For decades, Norway has led the
charge towards renewable energy,
776
00:41:48,729 --> 00:41:50,507
with most now provided
from the rivers
777
00:41:50,531 --> 00:41:53,410
that cascade into its fjords.
778
00:41:53,434 --> 00:41:55,913
And Oslofjord on
the building's doorstep
779
00:41:55,937 --> 00:41:59,483
provides them with a completely
different green energy solution.
780
00:41:59,507 --> 00:42:02,286
So a major part of the energy
efficiency of the building
781
00:42:02,310 --> 00:42:05,022
was also the use of the fjord
782
00:42:05,046 --> 00:42:08,091
to both cool the
building in the summer
783
00:42:08,115 --> 00:42:11,628
and to help warm the
building in the winter.
784
00:42:11,652 --> 00:42:13,230
[Narrator] The average
temperature of the water
785
00:42:13,254 --> 00:42:16,233
is 48 degrees,
786
00:42:16,257 --> 00:42:17,901
so piping the water
into the building
787
00:42:17,925 --> 00:42:21,138
will help bring the ambient
temperature either down or up
788
00:42:21,162 --> 00:42:22,897
to a comfortable level.
789
00:42:26,267 --> 00:42:29,413
Completing the work
goes down to the wire.
790
00:42:29,437 --> 00:42:31,715
And the engineers know that
missing the finish date
791
00:42:31,739 --> 00:42:34,852
would incur huge
financial penalties.
792
00:42:34,876 --> 00:42:38,689
A final push leaves them within
a whisper of the agreed date
793
00:42:38,713 --> 00:42:41,592
in October 2012.
794
00:42:41,616 --> 00:42:44,261
We were supposed to hand
it over on a Friday,
795
00:42:44,285 --> 00:42:45,896
and it was very close.
796
00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:48,332
But, uh, we agreed that
we could have the weekend.
797
00:42:48,356 --> 00:42:50,767
So we handed it over on Monday
and everybody was happy.
798
00:42:50,791 --> 00:42:52,903
[laughs]
799
00:42:52,927 --> 00:42:55,739
[Narrator] Just 20
months after work started,
800
00:42:55,763 --> 00:42:58,609
this incredible cantilevered
office building,
801
00:42:58,633 --> 00:43:01,778
wrapped in thousands
of unique glass panels
802
00:43:01,802 --> 00:43:05,415
and situated on the banks
of the glorious Oslofjord,
803
00:43:05,439 --> 00:43:07,384
was ready to take its place
804
00:43:07,408 --> 00:43:11,288
amongst the other iconic
Oslo architecture.
805
00:43:11,312 --> 00:43:13,090
[Peter] Oh, I remember
that last weekend.
806
00:43:13,114 --> 00:43:14,591
One of the construction guys
807
00:43:14,615 --> 00:43:17,995
actually stood in the staircase
with a trumpet, playing.
808
00:43:18,019 --> 00:43:21,732
Yeah, everybody was happy,
and it was euphoric to be able
809
00:43:21,756 --> 00:43:24,568
to hand it over, that
construction in time.
810
00:43:24,592 --> 00:43:26,603
[Charlie] It was only
when we stood back
811
00:43:26,627 --> 00:43:28,405
and looked at the final product
812
00:43:28,429 --> 00:43:31,875
that the feeling of
accomplishment as a team,
813
00:43:31,899 --> 00:43:35,078
together with the contractor
and all the other consultants,
814
00:43:35,102 --> 00:43:38,081
really sank in.
It took some time.
815
00:43:38,105 --> 00:43:40,517
[Narrator] Constructed
under huge time pressure,
816
00:43:40,541 --> 00:43:42,452
this incredible
award-winning project
817
00:43:42,476 --> 00:43:46,924
has created an office
environment unlike any other.
818
00:43:46,948 --> 00:43:49,293
It's a building that
gives everyone inside
819
00:43:49,317 --> 00:43:51,628
an awe-inspiring view
of the fjord.
820
00:43:51,652 --> 00:43:54,298
And everone outside
is blown away
821
00:43:54,322 --> 00:43:56,791
by its staggering,
eye-catching looks.