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| Atkins-designed Yas Waterworld opens in Abu Dhabi The Atkins-designed Yas Waterworld on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi is now open to the public, setting a new benchmark in aqua park design. It marks an evolution from a purely water-based park to an adventure attraction complete with interactive rollercoasters. The waterpark covers 11 hectares, has 43 rides and attractions and has the capacity to host 7,000 visitors. Yas Waterworld is an integral part of Yas Island's entertainment portfolio and is the newest tourism beacon for Abu Dhabi, drawing regional and international crowds. Having previously worked as designers on the Wild Wadi Water Park in Dubai, Atkins was commissioned to plan and design the project, with a key remit to maximise sustainable design standards throughout the park in order to achieve an Estidama Pearl One sustainability rating. By pairing advanced technology with exceptional planning and engineering, our design reduces energy use and water consumption. Atkins' work involved the collaboration of around 30-40 engineers and environmental consultants with multiple skill sets from our offices in the UK and UAE. Attention to every detail was made to ensure that Emirati heritage was adhered to, at the same time as maximising the element of fun. A key objective was to remain honest to the architecture while introducing light-hearted elements of over-sized structures and colour. The technical challenges of creating the waterpark were demanding. The many rides and complicated special effects required sophisticated bespoke MEP design as the 55.2 km of pipework and 20.2 km of cabling had to be located almost entirely underground to prevent interference with rides and the visitors' enjoyment of the park. Yas Waterworld has already won two industry awards: at the World Waterpark Association (WWA) symposium in 2012, Atkins' innovative design won a Leading Edge Award for its architectural ingenuity, theming and original storyline, while in November 2012 Atkins' MEP work on the project scooped the Overall Project of the Year at the Middle East MEP Awards. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Construction News :: home page |