(June 21, 1891 – January 9, 1979) was an Italian engineer. He studied at the University of Bologna and qualified in 1913. Dr. Nervi taught as a professor of engineering at Rome University from 1946-61. He is widely known as a structural engineer and an architect, and for his innovative use of reinforced concrete. [Wikipedia]
It was the famous Italian engineer and architect, PierLuigi Nervi, who first undertook real research into ferro-cement technology.
He observed that reinforcing concrete with layers of wire mesh
resulted in a material with high impact resistance properties.
This
material differed from reinforced concrete in its flexibility and elasticity.
After the Second World War, Nervi built a 165-ton motor
sailer. This ship, "Irene", proved to be seaworthy. Similar ships
were built in the U.K., New Zealand and Australia, and
one circumnavigated the world without problems. But Nervi would not
have been a structural engineer and architect if he had
not also used this material for building construction. In 1947,
he first built a storehouse of ferro-cement.
Later he combined
reinforced concrete with the ferro-cement technique and constructed the famous
Turin Exhibition Hall with a roof system which spans 91
m. Nervi's work proved that ferro-cement is a high quality
construction material. The question remains why ferro-cement is relatively seldom
used as a building material in industrial countries.
The answer
lies in the process of industrialization of construction work. In
order to minimize the labour cost, construction work has become
more and more capital-intensive. As a result, working processes have
been mechanized wherever possible. In this context the possibilities for
mechanizing ferro-cement remain very limited.
A high percentage of labour
cost will always characterize this technology. While this is considered
to be a disadvantage for industrialized countries, it is a
positive factor in developing countries where the labour market is
characterized by high unemployment and low labour costs.
It has therefore to be emphasized that ferro-cement is by
no means a second-class technology, but rather highly appropriate especially
for countries where labour costs are low.
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Norfolk Scope is a cultural, entertainment, convention and sports complex at the northern perimeter of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, comprising an approximately 11,000 person arena, a 2,500-person theater known as Chrysler Hall, a 10,000 square foot exhibition hall and a 600 car parking garage.
HOK: Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum + Pier Luigi Nervi (as consultant) “The Priory Chapel” St. Louis, Missouri
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