The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) on Wednesday marked the completion of the energy canopy that will top off the centre by holding a press conference to present the features of the groundbreaking structure, which will cover the Greek National Opera and National Library buildings underneath.
The energy canopy is considered one of the most innovative elements in the design, conceived by architect Renzo Piano, since it will generate up to 2.0 GWh of electricity each year and will drastically minimise the SNFCC’s “carbon footprint”.
The last important milestone in the construction, the SNFCC’s energy canopy is a marvel of engineering on both a local and an international scale.
Optical illusion
It is supported by 30 columns and composed of 717 individual, precast pieces, towering over the Greek National Opera building below. Despite weighing 4,700 tons and measuring 46 metres at its highest point, the canopy creates the optical illusion of a light structure suspended above the SNFCC and blending in with the city skyline.
Construction of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is expected to be concluded in the first half of 2016, when it will be donated to the Greek people.
“After three years of incessant works, the SNFCC is maturing at a construction level is getting ready to take its next steps for its handing over to the Greek people, who — we hope — will enjoy and embrace it”, Andreas Dracopoulos, Co-President of the SNF, said during the press conference.
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