Wilson Street, located near Finsbury Square in central London, has been refurbished as a modern working space. While not yet open for use, this 1960s building now has two additional storeys with functional open-plan offices.
AWA were first contacted in 2020 to work on the structural design of this project. As construction teams started on site, they discovered that the building was erected using concrete weaker than originally designed.
Location: East London
The primary objective of the Wilson Street project was to build two additional storeys above a 1960s building, creating a contemporary office space in its East London location.
The building is situated on a narrow street close to the busy Liverpool Street Station, and next to a listed building. Careful consideration of the construction logistics was required to ensure work was sympathetic to the local infrastructure.
The biggest challenge for both AWA and the contractors was justifying the existing building and strengthening the original concrete where necessary. This project also involved heavy planning due to limitations of the height of the two storeys and logistics around the delivery of materials to the site.
AWA designed and detailed the steelwork shown in the image above. Due to the tight road structure, a smaller-sized crane was needed to lift the steelwork into position.
The listed building located immediately next door was an occupied church. This meant the design for the side of the building needed to consider the risks of construction work taking place adjacent and above the church.
Another requirement of the project was to create additional access points for emergencies. Stairs were added to the outside of the building to offer an escape route if needed.
Once work had been completed, a reception was held to celebrate the project with all involved and to showcase the finished product. Seeing the impressive steelwork structure on completion was another highlight for the team as it involved a lot of work to develop.
Wilson Street is an example of AWA’s capability to problem solve and work sympathetically with the local infrastructure. It shows their crucial role in supporting other contractors and ensuring a project is completed to specification.
This project showcases AWA’s excellence in the structural design of commercial buildings.
AWA is a structural engineering and civil engineering consultancy established in 1987, with a hard-won but deserved reputation for delivering excellence in our profession.
Our philosophy is simple: we put people first. This has resulted in a high number of repeat clients and an impressive track record of successful award-winning projects. We are proud to be professional, and approachable; we believe this makes us the ideal partner for your project.
AWA has chartered engineers in our offices located in Romsey, Hampshire and Bath, Somerset. We deliver services to clients across the South, South East and South West.
Our team includes both chartered structural engineers and chartered civil engineers committed to continuous professional development ensuring you benefit from up to date industry expertise, whatever your project entails.
To find out more about how AWA can help with your project, get in touch today. Call 01794 524447 (Romsey) or 01225 251498 (Bath) to speak to a member of our team. Alternatively, email mail@awaengineers.com and one of the team will be in touch.
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