We were employed as structural and civil engineers to this project to develop the site of a 1980’s concrete frame office into a Hub by Premier Inn hotel. In the initial stages the possibility of converting and extending the existing ten storey office block was considered. The building conversion was impractical however the existing building was founded on a significant number of bored piles which remained within the original design life and were capable of supporting a significant proportion of the weight of the proposed building.
In association with CGL, a scheme of testing, analysis and co-ordination was developed to determine the number of piles that could be reused in the proposed development and to demonstrate the piles would have sufficient design life for the proposed hotel.
The reused piles provide more than 50% of the total foundation capacity. The pile re-use reduced the concrete used on site, the installation programme and congestion on site.
