The Place

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This highly complex city centre development had to overcome the numerous problems associated with transport and urban infrastructure within the site boundary, reducing the available footprint for foundations to less than half the total site area.  Creative solutions to the structural challenges were conceived, including offsetting the building cores to counteract rotation from the double cantilever superstructure construction, as well as sinking a 2.4m diameter pile 55m deep adjacent to an underground escalator shaft.  Fully integrated Building Information Modelling (BIM) and collaboration between all those involved in the process of design and construction, from client through to contractor, ensured completion within a tight programme.

Judge's comment:

The judges agreed this was good example of a major project, with significant challenges due to existing retained infrastructure, being designed in a fully integrated BIM environment.  The importance of construction sequence and the effect of out of balance lateral forces due to the cantilevered superstructure are incorporated into a structural design that provides intelligent solutions to complex construction problems.