The sky's the limit

, Europe's largest multidisciplinary consultant, recently celebrated a world first with the installation of wind turbine blades on the Bahrain World Trade Centre (see below).

The three 29m-diameter blades are supported by three bridges each weighing 65 tonnes. These are positioned between the development's two 50-storey, 240m-tall office towers. Their installation is the culmination of over three years' research and development by Atkins' architects and engineers and partners Ramboll, Norwin and Elsam Engineering. Construction was undertaken by Nass Murray & Roberts.

The centre is the world's first building to incorporate large-scale integrated wind turbines, and ground tests indicate that they will generate between 11 and 15 per cent of the building's annual energy requirements.

Head architect and design director Shaun Killa believes the research and design for the centre has set a precedent for sustainable architecture around the globe.

'The Bahrain World Trade Centre is a significant project which showcases a particular technology that's set to become a very important component of sustainable design in the future. It serves as a model for an environmentally conscious design and helps pave the way for other future projects to integrate energy from wind power.' He said that sustainability is a principle upon which we must build the foundation of all future developments.

'Atkins is spearheading a number of initiatives to raise awareness of sustainability within the psyche of our architects and engineers. This project serves to highlight how with determination and willingness on behalf of responsive clients we can turn these ideas into reality,' said regional managing director Tim Askew.

Located in the downtown central business district of Manama, Atkins is responsible for concept to detailed design.

The centre comprises two towers that serve to channel the strong convection winds from Saudi Arabia directly on to the turbines. The towers also incorporate an office complex, shopping mall, sky-lit courts and a 42nd floor viewing deck. The scheme is set to open later this year.