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Fri March 29 2024

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Atkins unveils design for ‘smart’ city in Malaysia

16 Jul 14 Atkins has completed the concept design and masterplan for the Asia Aerospace City (AAC) in Subang, Malaysia.

The development aims to attract global engineering services business worth US$1.1bn (£643m) to Malaysia by 2020.

The contract to act as lead consultant and masterplanner for the facility was awarded by MARA, the Malaysian government agency responsible for education and entrepreneurship. The AAC has been designed as a smart city with cutting-edge research and development facilities, integrated office suites, academic campuses, a convention centre and residential areas. Atkins had been awarded the contract in April (link opens in new tab).

Inspiration for the 328,000m2 AAC design came from the wings of an aeroplane. With interaction between students and engineers identified by MARA as a key objective, the buildings are arranged to create nodes for various types of activities. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was used by Atkins to align buildings and allow natural breezes through the outdoor areas. A set of canopies covering 36,000 m2 will shade outdoor areas and contribute to on-site energy generation through in-built photovoltaic panels.

The plans include:

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  • An academic cluster, which includes the Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
  • A research and training centre supporting aerospace testing and validation activities
  • A central cluster which caters for professional events and contains a convention centre and a business hotel
  • Restaurant, cafe and sports facilities.

A light railway station is being built within walking distance of the AAC connecting it to the centre of Kuala Lumpur and to nearby Subang Airport. In addition electric buses will serve the AAC and adjacent facilities. The campus itself will be a completely pedestrianised.

Chris Birdsong, Atkins’ CEO for Asia Pacific, said: “This is an important project for Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Plan and Atkins is honoured to be working with MARA to deliver an outstanding academic and industry facility for the aerospace sector. We believe that it will play an important role in achieving the national vision of a self-sufficient industrialised Malaysia by 2020.”

Rural and regional development minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, added that the development will draw interest and commitment from international aerospace industry players to enable Malaysia to become the aerospace hub in Asia.

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