Could Elon Musk's Hyperloop revolutionise the world of leisure?
Hyperloop One, the Los Angeles firm racing to build the world’s first Hyperloop high-speed transport system, has partnered with Arup, AECOM and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to realise its ambitions.
The announcement was made today (11 May) as the company, formerly known as Hyperloop Technologies, attempts to prove its futuristic goals have a solid basis in reality and can revolutionise the worlds of transport, business and leisure. In addition to the partnerships, it also announced it has raised US$80m (€70.2m, £55.5m) in Series B funding, as well as continued Series A investment.
The Hyperloop is a tube-based transport system in which pressurised capsules travel on an air cushion, driven by linear induction motors and air compressors, at speeds of up to 760mph (1,200 km/h). The concept was proposed by Canadian-American entrepreneur and engineer Elon Musk in 2013, firing the starting gun on a technological race to realise the concept.
BIG and Arup will work on the design of the new system, while global engineering firm AECOM will support a feasibility study for the project conducted by Arcturan Sustainable Cargo.
Rob Lloyd, CEO of Hyperloop One, said: “We will work alongside these world-class partners to redefine the future of transportation, providing a more immediate, safe, efficient and sustainable high-speed backbone for the movement of people and things.”
The world's first public demonstration of the propulsion system will be held by Hyperloop One in Nevada tomorrow (12 May).
A major goal for Hyperloop One is to “create a fifth mode of transport that will connect distant cities to form dynamic and efficient economic super-regions” – a vision which has major connotations for the leisure industry.
According to Musk, the Hyperloop could reduce travel times drastically, with a journey from LA to San Francisco possible in just 35 minutes. Intra-city travel and links to remote parts of the world would become much quicker. Hospitality operators and out-of-city theme park developers could feasibly utilise this to receive visitors and supplies more quickly.
Hyperloop One co-founder and executive chair Shervin Pishevar said: “The brightest minds are coming together at the right time to eliminate the distances and borders that separate economies and cultures.”
Ingels said: “Traditionally, the work of an architect is to design buildings for the same known programme – a residence or a workplace – and try to squeeze in a marginal improvement here or an elegant design solution there. With Hyperloop, we are not only designing a futuristic station nor a very fast train – we are dealing with an entirely novel technology with the potential to completely transform how our existing cities will grow and evolve – and how new cities will be conceived and constructed.”
Arup Group chair Gregory Hodkinson added: “Hyperloop has the potential to solve many of today’s most complex long-distance transport issues. If railways helped enable the first industrial revolution, Hyperloop has the potential to do the same for the information economy, overcoming distances and creating connections between people, places, ideas and opportunities.”
The other new members of Hyperloop One’s “global partner ecosystem” come from the worlds of transportation engineering, infrastructure strategy and financing, construction and operations. They include:
• German engineering firm AMBERG Group
• Cargo Sous Terrain – a Swiss company developing an underground logistics system
• Deutsche Bahn Engineering & Consulting
• FS LINKS – a Scandinavian transport company aiming to better connect Finland and Sweden
• Dutch professional service company KPMG
• SYSTRA – an urban rail and public transportation engineering, consulting and operations firm developing high-speed mobility solutions in metro and intercity environments
Elliot Musk Hyperloop Hyperloop One Bjarke Ingels Group Arup AECOM

Property developer, Arada, announces third mega Wellfit health club in UAE

Hadi Teherani-designed alpine nature spa opens at Hotel Krallerhof in Austria

Architizer celebrates best of spa and wellness architecture at 11th Annual A+Awards

“We finally have a space worthy of our collection”: V&A launches huge new Photography Centre

Immersive storytelling museum takes pride of place at revamped Tiffany & Co. in NYC following redesign led by Peter Marino and OMA

Elegant Dior spa inspired by nature opens at Hôtel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes

Bjarke Ingels among finalists chosen in design competition for National Museum of the United States Navy

De Matos Ryan and AOC Architecture prepare to open Young V&A London

ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel creates new Bulgari Tokyo

Manchester City submits £300m Populous-designed plans to redevelop Etihad Stadium and add 400-bedroom hotel

Woods Bagot completes $120m refurb of Continental Sorrento with subterranean bathhouse and spa

New Dior spa carriage opens aboard Belmond’s luxury Royal Scotsman train

Bjarke Ingels creates meandering eco distillery attraction for Blue Run Kentucky

bbspa_Group to realise urban destination spa inside Sardinian football stadium

Thinkwell to deliver the world's first Play-Doh attractions in Saudi Arabia

Jayasom partners with Amaala to unveil multigenerational health resort in Saudi Arabia

OMA's Ellen van Loon is the visionary behind new cultural centre for Manchester

James Corner Field Operations creates Highline for London

Esbjerg’s landmark maritime center, designed by WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta, opens to the public

SEVEN to open world’s first indoor Discovery Adventures centres in Saudi Arabia

Fun and fear drive new Universal attraction concepts for Texas and Las Vegas

Voelker Gray Design creates 10-acre hot springs wellness haven for Atlanta

AIDarchitecten create healing spa for Antwerp's Botanic Sanctuary

Hollaway Studio's Seahive would bring blue health to South-East England

SEVEN to invest US$13bn in developing entertainment destinations across Saudi Arabia

World Spa’s expansive 50,000sq ft urban bathhouse and wellness club opens in Brooklyn

Floating Salmon Eye visitor attraction by Kvorning Design highlights sustainable aquaculture

White Arkitekter's Wood Hotel in Skellefteå Swedish Lapland is climate positive and made from local timber

Nohlab's 'Everything' installation among Noor Riyadh festival highlights
