Construction Solutions, which specialises in structural alterations, has secured a new £1m contract as part of a major £9m refurbishment project near Brick Lane in London.
The 32,200 sq ft office building is located on Princelet Street and was originally constructed in the 1800s. It is being extensively refurbished and extended, including the addition of two floors, a new roof structure, and a larger atrium featuring a new cantilevered staircase.
Appointed by main contractor Collins Construction, Construction Solutions will be responsible for designing and installing the temporary works and structural steelwork as well as carrying out groundworks and demolition. This will involve removing the existing roof, supporting the entire façade, and underpinning party walls. Construction Solutions will also need to design, lift and install two triangular trusses, each weighing 10 tonnes and that span the full width of the building to provide a column-free top floor.
Mark Farmer, managing director of Construction Solutions said: “This is a very complex refurbishment project both in terms of its design and location. Situated on a narrow, one-way street in the heart of London, we have to overcome many logistical challenges as are unable to close the road or use a tower crane to help lift equipment and materials. This means that we will have to manually lift, move and distribute the structural work using the internal space. Deliveries will also need to be carefully planned to ensure that no vehicles block the street.”
William Bowers, senior project manager at Collins Construction added: “We have appointed Construction Solutions as our specialist partner on a number of projects, so we know they have the expertise and experience required to manage the challenging structural elements of this project. Working within such a constrained site will require the team to go the extra mile, carefully co-ordinating its activity and ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding area.”
