5-Bachy Soletanche Geotechnical Specialists Structural Retaining Walls News 040208

Subscribe to newsletter

Editor's Note: Bachy Soletanche provide:-

Geotechnical Specialists
Piling
Structural Retaining Walls
Ground Anchors Soil Nailers
Jet Grouting Injection
Environmental Engineering
Building Design Engineers
Civil Engineering Projects

Request Information

Home
Include Article
Advertise

Links
Request Information
Terms of use
Contact

home

Bachy Soletanche - Adds levels to The Cube in Birmingham

Leading geotechnical specialist, Bachy Soletanche Limited (BSL) has recently completed piling works at the site of a planned iconic building, The Cube in Birmingham. The Cube will be the sister building of the Mailbox and is set to be a major new mixed use development including up-market apartments, retail outlets and the first roof-top restaurant to overlook the city. The Cube has been designed by Ken Shuttleworth – one of the architects to contribute to the creation of the Gherkin in London – and is receiving a lot of interest with many of the apartments already sold. Once complete, the building will include 17 storeys and a five floor basement which has been designed to make the best use out of the premium 60metres by 70metres space.
BSL was awarded the £1.7million piling works contract by BuildAbility to design and deliver a retaining wall. Working closely with the developers from an early stage in the project, a contiguous piled retaining wall was chosen to be installed around the perimeter of the site. Steve Mallinson, contracts manager for Bachy Soletanche commented:
“We had many issues to consider in the design process due to the sites city centre location by the canal, its limited space and the buildings adjacent to the east and west sides of the site. We worked closely with the project team to provide a solution which satisfied all parties”.
Using the large diameter auger (LDA) piling technique, BSL installed 226, 900mm diameter piles at 1050mm spacings. These were drilled up to a depth of 24metres. In order to carry out the process successfully, BSL skipped three piles – after installing the first pile – to avoid concrete flowing into the next borehole and therefore damaging the original pile.
However, when piling works commenced, BSL came across an unexpected problem of groundwater as Steve continued:
“We encountered up to 6metres of groundwater when boring out the 24 metre piles. As a result, we had to re-evaluate our methods of pouring the concrete into the bored pile.”
This required the use of a Tremie pipe which was put inside the reinforcement cage down to the toe of the pile. Concrete was then poured through the pipe and gradually lifted out as the concrete filled the pile. “By filling the borehole from the base up, the groundwater is displaced to the top of the cast concrete.” Steve added. Included in the design is a car lift in the southwest corner of the site. With space being at a premium, BSL replaced the LDA piles in this area with 24Nr, 273mm diameter minipiles bored to a depth of 24 metres. Another 54 minipiles were used to the west of the site alongside the LDA piles which were drilled to a depth of 12metres in order to add further support to the adjacent building.
Finally, BSL constructed 30 king post piles to provide foundation for a ramp which is required for future building works. Each king post pile was formed in a 900mm diameter pile, with a 400mm square steel column concreted into the toe of the pile. These piles run in two parallel rows down the centre of the site.
With all the initial piling works complete, the site has been excavated exposing the piles between 14metres and 19metres to create a new ground level. BSL returned to the site after the excavation to construct 12 temporary anchors to hold back the retaining piles on the east side of the site.
BSL completed the piling project at the end of 2007.

Email: fiona@manifestcomms.co.uk

Tyco Thermal Controls Heat Tracing Snow Melting De Icing News 280108

Brett Martin Daylight In Plane Rooflights Site Assembled News 2008

Wade International Ltd Rainwater Disposal Floor Gullies News 280108

Gensler Global Design and Planning Firm News 280108

SAS International Architectural Steelwork Ceiling Systems News 290108

P+HS Architects Building Design Architects News 290108

David Ball Group Plc Specialist Cementitious & Sand Products News 290108

Sapa Building Products Curtain Walling Metal Cladding Facades News 290108

White Young Green Mechanical & Electrical Engineering News 290108

SCHÜCO Curtain Walling Metal Cladding Facades News 300108

Ecos Trust Sustainable Development News 040208

Crest Nicholson Premier House Builders News 040208

Bachy Soletanche Geotechnical Specialists Structural Retaining Walls News 040208

Kawneer Curtain Wall Systems Door systems News 040208

CMS Acoustics Acoustic Insulation Equipment News 040208

Enact Energy Energy Project Management Services News 040208

Natural Building Technologies Sustainable Building Technologies News 040208

Advanced Hygienic Cladding Hygienic Wall Claddings and Ceilings News 040208

Polyflor Ltd Floor Flexible Covering News 040208

Kier Homes Residential Developers News 040208

Mita Cable Trays Ladders Datatray News 040208

Radway Doors & Windows Ltd Fenestration Contractors Public Sector Windows News 040208

Kier Homes Residential Developers News 040208-2

SCHÜCO Curtain Walling Metal Cladding Facades News 040208

Honeywell International Valves Pipework Systems Motorised Valves News 040208

Siemens Building Technologies Fire Systems Detection Cabling Controllers News 040208

Rockfon Ltd Stone Wool Ceilings News 040208

Verint Systems Inc Analytical Software Solutions Surveillance News 040208

Chartered Institute of Building Building Control and Standards Conservation News 040208

Polyflor Sports Surfaces Safety Flooring News 060208

Marshalls plc Hard Landscaping Transformation News 060208

Electro Mechanical Systems Ltd Traffic Barriers Control Cabinets News 060208

The Tile and Stone Show Tile and Stone Exhibition News 060208

SAS INTERNATIONAL Air Curtains Air Handling Units News 070208

Monodraught Natural Daylighting Sundomes Natural Ventilation News 070208

Icopal Roofs Finishes roofing materials membranes News 070208

Marley Eternit Roofing Clay Tiles Concerete Tiles News 070208

Door & Hardware Federation Doors Shutters and Associated Hardware News 070208

Fire Magic External Stainless Steel Kitchen News 070208

Tarkett Marley Floors Fully Flexible Sheet and Tiles News 070208

Johnstones Steel and Cladding Coatings Varnish News 070208

CUPA Natural Slate Natural Slate News 070208

HKR Architects Architectural practice News 070208

Mermet Solar Shading External Louvres Solar Control accessories News 080208

Armorgard Security Products Secure Storage Boxes News 080208

SES Building Project Management Services News 080208

Colliers CRE Real estate consultancy services News 080208

Xtralis Ltd Smoke detection and control systems News 080208

Passivent Lighting Control Management Systems Dimming News 080208

Glidevale Ltd Roof Space Ventilation News 080208

Toshiba Air Conditioning Air Conditioning Systems Chilled Beams News 080208

Toshiba Air Conditioning Air Conditioning Systems Chilled Beams News 080208-2

ISG Construction Services Specialists New Builds News 080208

ARDEX UK Screeds Renders Ceramic Adhesives Grouts 080208

GENSLER LONDON Global Design and Planning Firm News 080207

News Categories : Geotechnical Specialists
Piling
Structural Retaining Walls
Ground Anchors Soil Nailers
Jet Grouting Injection Grouting
Environmental Engineering
Building Design Engineers
Civil Engineering Projects