Monster Cylinders

About the project:
Monster hydraulic cylinders for opening the roof of the event hall Agora in Valencia, Spain.

The entire complex consists of a helmet-shaped appearance with steel ribs and a retractable roof comprised of steel lamellae. It will be a public meeting point and an important venue in the newly created "City of Arts and Sciences" of the city of Valencia.

The over all costs of the entire steel construction, including drive and interior construction should be around 32 million euros. For this building 6'500 tons of steel are used, for the mobile structur approx. 1'300 tons.

The building was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Agora is supposed to represent a Spanish conquistadors helmet if it is closed. When opened, the helmet of a general.

Distinctive for the building is the rib-steel construction, and the folding roof with its steel lamina. The 2'000 ton roof supporting structure including the counterweights can be opened and closed within a few minutes. The Agora has a total length of 100 m, a width of 65 m and a height, with opened roof, of 85 m. Our partner in this project is Waagner-Biro.