Whitby Wood • Aparthotel, Cambridge

Aparthotel, Cambridge

Rationalising the structural and geotechnical design

We are working on scheme review and project delivery of a 162-key aparthotel project in Cambridge that already has planning approval. Our engineers are designing more-efficient geotechnical and structural solutions.

Our client is the contractor, Henry Construction, which is undertaking the design and build project for TLC Group.

Although the project is a straightforward concrete frame building, with brick and precast concrete cladding, we have been able to reduce the construction cost through rationalisation of floor slab thicknesses and a significant reduction in the specified reinforcement in the columns — eliminating over-design. This was achieved through examination of the relative concrete versus reinforcement costs.

The biggest impact we have made on project cost has come through the re-engineering of the foundations. Originally designed with over 250 piles, the basement has been re-engineered as a groundbearing solution using concrete strip footings with heave void formers in between.

Situated above the car parking and plant areas in the basement are a central podium courtyard, and a complex of hotel rooms and serviced apartments. The building includes a leisure facility, with a swimming pool at ground floor level.

location
33 Milton Road, Cambridge, UK
architect
Dexter Moren Associates
developer
TLC Group
contractor
Henry Construction
completion
2019

services

Structural engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Civil engineering

sectors

Hotels

renderings: Dexter Moren Associates

UK projects