New Building News

General

Position:- The project remains 1 week ahead of programme due to the more critical concrete pours that were advanced.

Curtain Walling Mock Up:- A mock up of the curtain walling will be erected on site in the near future.

Balustrade: Following the review of the mock up a decision has been made to now move forward with this element.

Precast Stairs: Precast stairs have started to be delivered in readiness for installation to the relevant areas.

Considerate Contractors Scheme:- CCS visited the site on 16/2/2012 and gave a positive report scoring 38/40.

Future works for March

GSHP:- The pipes that were sunk at the start of the project continue to be cropped and joined to header connection pipes that will terminate in access ducts in the plant rooms. The works are now focused in the last areas onsite working towards the corner of the central area. This is expected to be complete in the next 2 weeks.

Drainage & Basement Slab:- The more complex basement pours (3A) adjacent to the lower plantroom in the south have been largely poured. It is targeted to have all the south basement complete by the beginning of March.

Steel Beams & Columns:- Holding down bolts are fixed accurately to the formwork / reinforcement in order that steel I beams and columns can be bolted to the structure after the slab is poured. The steel column and beams are expected to be onsite week commencing 5/3/2012.

Plant Room & Services:- The service trenches to the centre have largely been excavated now that the bulk dig removal has finished. The lower level plant room walls in the south have been formed with steel reinforcement in readiness for a concrete pour.

Mezzanine Floor:- Pour No 8 on the mezzanine level of the north has been poured and core 1 twin walls have been erected. The formwork has also started on the south in one corner.

Recent Site Photos

General

Position:- The project is on programme. Some plant breakdowns have hindered progress causing mid pour problems, however, following repair and maintenance it is expected this will now improve.

Balustrade:- A mock up of the timber balustrade has been produced and has been viewed.

Precast Columns: Precast columns have started to be delivered to site and have been erected in readiness for the mezzanine floor works.

Future works for January

The Big Dig:- The excavation is now largely done with the last remaining corner being used as an access and area for removal of lower plant room spoil.

GSHP:- The pipes that were sunk at the start of the project continue to be cropped and joined to header connection pipes that will terminate in access ducts in the plant rooms. The works are approximately two thirds of the way through and are presently working on the south working towards the central area. This will continue into February.

Drainage & Slab:- The third slab pour on the north was poured on 24/1/2012 using concrete pumps. The concrete pump is a separate vehicle with a telescopic flexible pipe to deliver the concrete to the desired position and is fed with premixed concrete lorries. It is targeted to have all the north slab complete by the end of January. The first slab pour in the south was poured on the 19/1/2012. It is targeted to have all the south basement complete by the beginning of March.

Plant Room & Services:- The lower plant rooms have been excavated and blinded (concrete cover over the substrata) in the south.

Tower Cranes:- Tower Cranes are now erected for use on the project, although like the concrete pumps, have been experiencing some breakdowns recently.

Recent Site Photos

Ongoing Works

Steel Propping:- Large steel props are largely installed to the north and south of the site. These brace at ground level along the capping beam in order to restrain the ground pressure from the surrounding sides of the building while digging continues.

The Big Dig:- Excavation of the soil within the footprint of the building started ahead of programme and is expected to continue until Christmas 2011. There will be over 47,000m3 of soil to be removed. The gravel will be recycled and the clay used locally as fill material. As the excavation proceeds the props and capping beam will be closely monitored to ensure there is no movement.

Cleaning of Piles:- As piles continue to be exposed piles (concrete “wall” below ground level) they are being cleaned and inspected.

GSHP:- The project has incorporated Ground Source Heat Pumps which when complete will supply heat in winter and supply cool in the summer. This is achieved by submerging pipes deep into the ground that can transfer the heat / cool temperatures to the building by use of pumps. The pipes that were sunk at the start of the project will now be cropped and joined to header connection pipes that will terminate in access ducts in the plant rooms. The two sections of the north were completed on 6/12/2011.

Hoarding:- The hoarding works adjacent to the main access road on the north, and to the pedestrian route on the south are now complete.

Maths Dept Visit:- The Maths Department visited the site on 9/12/2011 to view the latest progress.

Future works for December

The Big Dig:- The excavation overall is now just over three quarters complete. The north and south are down to the correct level, while the central section will continue just into the new year (w.c. 9/1/2012). The removal of soil will change from loading the lorries at the base of the ramps to loading from ground level as the excavation diminishes.

GSHP:- The pipes that were sunk at the start of the project continue to be cropped and joined to header connection pipes that will terminate in access ducts in the plant rooms. The first 2 sections of the south are ongoing and expected to be complete by 22/12/2011. The remainder of work to the centre will be carried out in January.

Drainage & Slab:- The passenger lift pit to core 2 has been excavated while the adjacent attenuation tank area has been blinded. The vehicle lift base has been cast together with the first area of the basement slab (16/12/2011).

Tower Cranes:- Crane bases are concreted. The 1st tower crane is planned to be erected by use of a mobile crane on the weekend of 7th & 8th January 2012. The 2nd tower crane is planned to be erected on the 9th & 10th January.

Recent Site Photos

Ongoing Works

Pile Capping:- The tops of the concrete piles are exposed and are then cut to a more accurate height using a mechanical cropper and breakers. This operation is now complete.

Capping Beam:- A concrete capping beam is being constructed along the top of the piles to connect them and form a solid continuous ring beam. This operation is now complete.

Steel Propping:- Large steel props are largely installed to the north and south of the site. These will brace at ground level along the capping beam in order to restrain the ground pressure from the surrounding sides of the building while digging continues.

GSHP:- The project has incorporated Ground Source Heat Pumps which when complete will supply heat in winter and cooling in the summer. This is achieved by submerging pipes deep into the ground that can transfer the heat / cool temperatures to the building by use of pumps.

Maths Dept Visit:- The Maths Department visited the site on 11/11/2011 to view the latest progress.

Future works for November / December

The Big Dig:- Excavation of the soil within the footprint of the building has started ahead of programme and is expected to continue until Christmas 2011. There will be over 47,000m3 of soil to be removed. The gravel will be recycled and the clay used locally as fill material. As the excavation proceeds the props and capping beam will be closely monitored to ensure there is no movement.

Cleaning of Piles:- Once the excavation of the soil is sufficiently advanced in early November the exposed piles (concrete “wall” below ground level) will be cleaned and inspected.

GSHP:- The pipes that were sunk at the start of the project will now be cropped and joined to header connection pipes that will terminate in access ducts in the plant rooms. This will be done as base of the dig is exposed and will continue into the new year.

Hoarding:- Hoarding works will start w.c. 21/11/2011 adjacent to the access road fed by Gate 7.

Tower Cranes:- Crane bases will be formed in November in readiness for crane installation in January.

Recent Site Photos