AECOM has released drone footage of the 2018 Serpentine Pavilion, which opened to the public last week, so that people can experience the project from a bird’s eye view. For the sixth year running, AECOM, in collaboration with David Glover, delivered engineering and technical design services for the project.

Ross Manship, Lead Drone Pilot, AECOM, said: “The beauty of a project like the Serpentine Pavilion is that it can look so different from various angles and usually people are only given this perspective from the ground. It’s great to give people an aerial view of this iconic and inspirational project.

“Working on this project makes a change from my usual day job, which usually involves working with drones on infrastructure projects or 3D visualisations of proposed developments, collecting photos and videos to be used in public consultations.  We have the capability in house to add 3D visualisations of proposed developments and the eye in the sky view from a drone really helps to create a view of how things might look that people can really grasp.

“AECOM has a centre of excellence in Nottingham which builds on previous Research Partnerships with the University of Nottingham focusing on drone use. AECOM has been a major player in the use of drones worldwide for a number of years and part of the role of the centre of excellence is to engage with AECOM’s worldwide drone community and ensure best practice is adopted and adhered to within UK based operations. AECOM is a big believer in leveraging global expertise to deliver excellence locally.”

The Mexican architect Frida Escobedo, celebrated for dynamic projects that reactivate urban space, was commissioned to design this year’s Serpentine Pavilion. AECOM has worked closely with the architect, the Serpentine Galleries and contractor, Stage One Creative Services, to develop the concept into a finely detailed construction for the public to enjoy.

The Serpentine Pavilion is one of the top ten most-visited architectural and design exhibitions in the world. Each year, the Serpentine Galleries commissions an international architect to design a temporary Pavilion for the Gallery grounds.

Last year, AECOM provided engineering and technical advisory services for Diébédo Francis Kéré’s Pavilion, which was a bold, innovative structure that brought the architect’s characteristic sense of light and life to the lawns of Kensington Gardens. In 2016, for the first time, the Serpentine Galleries expanded its annual architecture programme to include four Summer Houses and in 2015, AECOM helped to bring selgascano’s colourful, translucent, chrysalis-like design to life. In 2014 the company helped design and deliver Smiljan Radić’s toroidal shell structure and in 2013 it provided engineering and technical design services for Sou Fujimoto’s cloud-like Pavilion.

Please click here to view the drone footage.