Working collaboratively to improve efficiency on site at Cambridge House

Cambridge House Project, Building 3

Delivering 4 levels of temporary propping and a bespoke excavator gantry platform.

Contractor

Location

Piccadilly, London

The Project

Cambridge House, Building 3 is part of luxury hotel and private residence construction and conversion project.

Ground level looking up at four levels of temporary propping at Cambridge House
Excavator Gantry Platform with telescopic excavator and temporary propping at Cambridge House

Situation

Deconstruct approached Conquip for a value engineered solution to improve on the indicative temporary propping scheme proposed by the consultant engineers for the site.

As Deconstruct planned the project, a waling beam was used to ensure the load was equally distributed into the capping beam due to the addition of voids. Also, they had to create new temporary and permanent manholes due to an existing sewer on site needing to be diverted. This affected the overall design of the temporary works. However, by working together, we were able to revise the temporary propping scheme to accommodate the alterations and overcome these challenges.

The project began at the height of the pandemic and continued through both lockdowns, however we continued to virtually meet with Deconstruct and answer any questions. Using technology to our advantage, we used video tools to explain the structure of the platform and determine an installation sequence for the temporary propping and platform.

Welding steel framework at Paddington Cube
Erith Construction excavating
Three men installing temporary propping at Cambridge House
An engineer installs an access hatch into an excavator platform

Approach

Temporary Propping

Propping began at capping beam level, with four levels of temporary works needed before construction of the basement raft slab and the reinforced concrete frame could replace the temporary propping.


Excavator Gantry Platform

Our bespoke excavator platform allowed Deconstruct to achieve bulk excavation with a telescopic clam shell excavator from street level. Additionally, incorporating access hatches into the design allowed access to the inclinometers, which are used to measure any potential movement in the concrete piles.

We fabricated the entire platform in our workshop before delivery to ‘iron out’ any potential issues. When the final product was delivered, one of our fabricators visited site to answer any questions, as they had already seen the full install of the platform.


Results

Conquip delivered all four levels of basement propping and the excavator platform via out fleet of FORS Gold compliant transport vehicles. This allowed us to deliver in a short time frame and accommodate any rescheduling needs with minimal notice.

Installation of the platform took six days and the pre-assembled parts made installation much easier and faster.

Delivery driver assists unloading temporary works at Cambridge House
Conquip FORS Gold Compliant Transport Vehicle

Conclusion

Conquip were pleased to continue a strong, professional relationship with Deconstruct. Working collaboratively with Deconstruct during the design phase of the temporary works helped to improve efficiency and communication on site.


“We didn’t stop working through the lockdown, Conquip was always ready online to arrange meetings and sort out any problems or questions that we had.”

Anibal Fernandez | Project Engineer | Deconstruct UK


“It has been a good working relationship between Deconstruct and Conquip.”

Sam Maguire | Project Manager | Deconstruct UK