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The Structural Engineer, Volume 77, Issue 7, 1999
The idea of covering the whole site for the millennium exhibition to provide a protected environment followed the first scheme for housing it in a number of large buildings. This paper describes the engineering design and construction of the roof now known as the Millennium Dome. The design started with the engineering decisions that led to the fabric and cable structure. This concept was then developed into the final form of a spherical dome supported by 12 masts, and the cables were arranged to eliminate dams in the su~ace that could possibly initiate ponding. The construction details were developed to accept the cable movements and to assist with the assembly process, and special equipment was planned for lifing the net. The selection of PTFE-coated glass-fibre cloth is described, along with the method of developing the cutting patterns and the attachment details. W.I. Liddell and P.W. Miller
Installing the ventilation cap which forms the centrepiece of the Millennium Dome, designed by Buro Happold Consulting Engineers, was a challenge for Baco Contracts, which developed the fabrication details. Kathy Stansfield
The Egan Report Rethinking Construction was published in July 1998 and patterns regarding take-up of some recommendations are emerging. The report came four years after the Latham Report Constructing the Team - and while it is a follow-on in some areas, it conflicts significantly in others. Typically Latham gave considerable thought to improving contracts which would also reduce conflict. Egan suggests that contracts should often be replaced by regular team working, and therefore reliance on mutual trust and interdependence. Stefan Tietz