Heavydrive installs curved glass elements at the Mokslo sala Science and Innovation Centre in Kaunas (Lithuania)

Heavyweight, tall panes installed

Kaunas (Lithuania) is witnessing the emergence of the Mokslo sala Science and Innovation Centre, a state-of-the-art architectural masterpiece. Heavydrive, based in Tapfheim, was in charge of installing the 1,400 kilo (3,086 lb) curved glass elements.

A total of 14 extremely tall, curved panes had to be installed within ten days. The concave glass elements measured 1.4 metres (4.6 ft) wide and 7.5 metres (24.6 ft) high. The glass panes had been transported by crane into the circular atrium, and then a Heavydrive minicrane placed them in the façade position beneath a solid steel superstructure in the form of a colossal panel.

The Mokslo sala centre includes a museum, exhibitions, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) laboratories, virtual projection spaces, cafés and conference rooms. The building exterior is made mainly of glass and concrete. The most breathtaking feature of the Mokslo sala is a panel measuring around 21 metres (68.9 ft) in diameter that seems to float in the air. The design was created by Spanish-Australian firm SMAR Architecture Studio, which beat 144 entrants to win an international architectural competition to design the centre. The supporting structure was supplied by Peikko, a Finnish provider of slim floor structures, fastening and connection technology.