Eastwood were involved as Civil and Structural Engineers from the outset to completion. Our works included:

Enabling works

• Coordination of demolition of courtyard and other structures
• New HV switch room constructed within central block
• Lowering of central block floor to allow disabled access
• Strengthening of laboratory floors

Main contract

• Support of freeform roof from existing building
• Design of helical stair
• Construction stage design of reinforced concrete core frames
• Foundation design for freeform roof
• Detailing of repairs to listed building and underpinning
• Design of bearings for freeform roof at existing building interface
• Openings and alterations to existing structure
• Below ground drainage design
• Modification of original timber roof structures to restrain the high level

The nature of this project meant the Eastwood team had to design innovative solutions to unique challenges, including:

• The design of a unique, multi-axis, pinned, structural support system to allow for the integration of a freeform glass roof above an existing Victorian building.
• The strengthening of a Victorian steel truss with a new sandwich truss to provide direct support to the freeform roof above the central block. All now hidden above the ceiling.
• Cantilevering a 5m high helical stair from an existing 100+ year old masonry arch structure.
• Forming a 6m wide, ground floor opening through both sides of a four storey mass masonry building with a basement below.
• The development of a construction methodology to allow for the integration of a modern mechanical ventilation system via a number of large penetrations within the Victorian building fabric, whilst minimising the requirement for propping.