Beer-Sheva's High-Tech Park Bridge in the shape of a double helix was the winner in the long span category of the triannual Footbridge Awards. The winners were announced at the Footbridge 2017 conference in Berlin, Germany last month.
"A thorough, rigorous and well-resolved design and an imaginative concept for a long span crossing. It fits well within the railway environment – the footbridge has a clear structural scheme with rhythm, and creates a space where pedestrians feel protected when crossing the train platforms," the judges wrote in their decision.
The Footbridge Awards are presented once every three years and recognize the best in design, renovation and lighting of bridges for pedestrians/cyclists/equestrians that have been completed in the previous three years. The competition is sponsored by Bridge Design & Engineering magazine.
Projects must meet both of the following criteria: They must be for use only for pedestrians and/or cyclists and/or equestrians, and they must have been opened to the public or the renovation programme/lighting installation have been completed between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2016.
The long span category is for new footbridges with a maximum clear span greater than 75 meters.
The Beer-Sheva High-Tech Park Bridge details:
Commissioning authority: City of Beer-Sheva
Architect: Bar Orian Architects
Structural engineer: Rokach Ashkenazi Engineers
Main contractor: Shura Ltd
Steel fabricator: Addi 2000
Lighting designer: Orly Avron-Alkabes Lighting Design
Media Coverage:
NoCamels
Footbridge Awards jury:
Keith Brownlie (director, Brownlie, Ernst & Marks)
Brian Duguid (UK bridge practice leader, Mott MacDonald)
Richard Fish (independent bridge engineering consultant)
Dr Wasoodev Hoorpah (structural dynamics consultant)
Dr Ana Ruiz-Teran (lecturer in structural engineering, Imperial College, London)
Helena Russell (editor, Bridge design & engineering magazine)
The other contestants in the long span category included:
· George C King Bridge, Calgary, Canada
· Hendon Park Footbridge, Owairaka, Auckland, New Zealand
