Brunel Street Works

The development consists of five blocks with towers ranging in height from 16 to 26 storeys. 9000m ² commercial space incorporating 152 bed hotel plus two levels of car parking. Enabling works of 8 million pounds was procured.

The new buildings cover the majority of the site area which is located between a major road and the DLR presenting logistical challenges for construction. Additional challenges included the need to divert major sewers and other buried services including the re-location of an electricity sub-station and the incorporation of SUDS to limit surface water discharge.

Reinforced concrete frames with blade columns and flat slabs form the structure of most of the blocks. This provides an inherent fire and sound insulation whilst allowing easy distribution of services and maximising floor to ceiling heights. Stability is provided by robust concrete ‘core’ walls surrounding stairs and lift shafts and foundations are piled. Pre-fabrication of bathroom pods, lightweight brick replacement cladding, precast columns and precast concrete and steel balconies. Details were standardised over all blocks to aid construction. All analysis, design and drawing production was carried out to BIM Level 2. All blocks were constructed concurrently which required careful design management to ensure that information was correct and was delivered to programme.