KAPSARC

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
COMPLETED 2017

KAPSARC (King Abdullah Petroleum and Scientific Research Centre) is an extraordinary new building by renowned architect, Zaha Hadid. KAPSARC is a non-profit institution for independent energy research into reducing the environmental impact and overall costs of energy supply through technology-based solutions. It features a permanent exhibition in the Program Hall as well as a Media Walls and Information Wall.

OUR ROLE

Greenway Associates were appointed as Quantity Surveyor for the permanent displays within KAPSARC. Jared Mensah led this project.

THE PROJECT

The main Media Wall is a 2-storey digital canvas in the atrium that features 3 ever-changing generative artworks, designed as metaphors for the spirit of scientific research. “A Thousand Minds” brings to life the neural activity of open-source brain scan data from the Human Connectome Project. “Solar Sailor” observes an infinite succession of sunrises and sunsets from a satellite orbiting Earth. “Unknown Territories” is an infinite journey through generative caves, from abstracted ice caves to brightly coloured desert caves, infinitely travelling deeper into unknown territories.

Opposite to the main Media Wall is an Information Wall, featuring a dynamic information display, which aggregates content from a variety of news and social media sources, as well as live video, into a constantly evolving, multi-language information point for guests. The content can be constantly monitored, managed and updated by staff using a bespoke iPad application.

All of the media installations are high-precision, low-level multi-screen managed by a framework that keeps 20 computers in synch, in order to render the display for 10 hours a day, every day, with almost no human intervention.

Event’s interpretative approach for the KAPSARC Program Hall exhibits are inspired by the organic forms of Zaha Hadid’s wonderful cellular structured architecture, as can be seen below.

PROJECT CHALLENGES & ACHIEVEMENTS

Since it’s completion, KAPSARC exhibition has helped visitors to understand the issues surrounding the development of policies and economic framework that help to reduce the environmental impact and overall costs of energy supply. The project presented many unique audio-visual challenges including complex projections onto multi-faceted solid surfaces and large video wall displays. Using our specialist knowledge in the sector, Greenway Associates were able to effectively manage the cost of this project from inception to completion.

TAKE A QUICK TOUR

THE DETAILS

Client: Kingdom of Saudi
Designer: Event Communications
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
QS: Greenway Associates
Value: $7.5m
Completed: 2017