New Building Construction: Progress Update 6

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