3. The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark is a triumph of modern engineering, featured by the likes of National Geographic and the Discovery Channel’s Build it Bigger for its bold look and daring design elements.
4. The SkyPark spans the top level of all three Marina Bay Sands hotel towers 656 feet (200 meters) above the ground.
7. In 2006, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and visionary architect Moshe Safdie were awarded the bid to build Singapore’s first integrated resort. Natare Corporation was hired to build and install the SkyPark pools.
8. They include a 150-meter infinity-edge stainless steel pool, three large hydrotherapy spas, a wading pool and a reflecting pool -- all on the 55th floor of the resort.
9. Comprising 400,000 pounds of stainless steel and holding 380,000 gallons of water, the SkyPark pool is the world’s largest infinity pool at that height. March 2010
10. The pool is also composed of 250,000 ceramic tiles. May 2010
11. The mechanical systems were designed with multiple and independent recirculation and filtration loops allowing for a variety of operational modes depending on the load (swimmers in the pool), weather conditions, feature effects and hours of operation.
12. The entire system was individually engineered and structurally designed using the most comprehensive computer design and modeling tools. Three-dimensional models were created long before manufacturing or construction began.
13. A scale model of the pool enclosures and submersed connectors was built and tested at Natare’s headquarters in Indianapolis.
14. October 2009 This mock-up allowed Natare to troubleshoot and modify the sealing method in order to provide a superior product never before used in elevated pools.
15. The pool interior is finished with ceramic tile adhered directly to the stainless steel foundation.
16. The SkyPark pools consist of three separate shells; the middle shell constructed atop the middle tower, and the outer shells constructed on bridges that connect the middle tower with the outer ones.
17. The structural bridges between each hotel tower were installed with a 3-inch pitch, or camber, to accommodate the weight of the pool when filled with water.
18. Because the pool was built atop three high rise towers, engineers had to consider the fact that wind, and the force of gravity would cause the towers to sway and move independently of one another.
19. They accomplished this feat by constructing four movement joints beneath the main pool; each with a unique range of motion.
20. The three pool shells are joined by connectors at each of the movement joints that double as shallow-water terraces for pool loungers.
26. Ideally raw materials would be shipped and fabricated on-site, but in this case crew members shared a very restricted workspace with many other contractors on a construction site in the sky…
27. Natare developed a plan to pre-fabricate all components from their manufacturing facility in Indianapolis and ship them to the site in more than 30 ocean freight containers.
