Ahec launches a new technical publication about Endless Stair

09/10/2013

Endless Stair, commissioned by the American Hardwood Export Council (Ahec) for the London Design Festival 2013, combines the visual excitement of an art installation with the seriousness of a research project. A publication telling the design, engineering and environmental story is now available to order free of charge by visiting www.americanhardwood.org/EndlessStair/. Designed by dRMM Architects and engineered by Arup, the project is the first ever use of hardwood cross-laminated timber (Clt), a fast-establishing technology, which is usually made from softwood. Ahec believes that there is real potential for the commercial application of Clt in tulipwood – an abundant and structurally impressive American hardwood, and Endless Stair is a first step to demonstrate this. Written by Ruth Slavid, the Endless Stair publication features the design story as well as an in-depth technical analysis of the structure, including new rolling shear data for American tulipwood.

Using the results of its recent Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) research project, Ahec was able to produce a full ISO conformant environmental profile for Endless Stair. It is the first time this has been done for an installation at the London Design Festival. The data and analysis is presented in the publication in coherent diagrams to explain the complex study.

Endless Stair was opened on 16^th September by U.S Ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun. Ten of thousands of people have seen the structure and an exhibition display and leaflets on site help to communicate the technical and design story. While providing a unique public experience to celebrate imaginative design in London, this project has an important technical design legacy and challenges current thinking within the construction industry. The design and technical story is documented in the project publication which is available to order free of charge by visiting www.americanhardwood.org. The publication will also be available as an iPad app in the next two weeks by searching ‘Endless Stair’ in the app store.