Projects

 This project entailed full refurbishment of a 1990’s office building in central Birmingham. The key to this project was understanding and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the existing frame. This allowed the development of an efficient scheme which made the most of the inherent strengths of the structure, whilst designing highly targeted structural interventions to facilitate the vision of the Client and the architect. A large rooftop terrace was key to the scheme, and a new slab was designed for this, above an existing double height plantroom. The slab was designed to be robust enough to support loading from planters and façade access equipment, but light enough to require only minimal strengthening to the structural below. A pavilion structure on the terrace was designed to be as light as possible, to avoid excessive structural impact.  

The site was complex, with the Grade II listed Great Northern Arcade, above Network Rail tunnels, abutting on one side, and live tram tracks on the other, requiring detailed liaison with asset protection teams on both sides.