Client

BAM

Location

Bristol

Package Value

£3.3M

Sector

Education

A state-of-the-art education facility designed to meet contemporary industry demands and close skill gaps in the sector.

[Image credit: AHR ]

Overview

The University of the West of England’s new Engineering Building is a £22 million state-of-the-art education facility designed to meet contemporary industry demands and close skill gaps in the sector. Completed in Autumn 2020, the building boasts specialist laboratories, workshops and digital engineering facilities, featuring engine test cells, wind tunnels and dedicated learning spaces. Working closely with the main contractor BAM, we undertook the key internal and external groundworks for the building. Our core contributions encompassed the following scopes of work:

  • Reduced Level Dig & Stone Up
  • Foundations
  • Internal & External Concrete Retaining Walls
  • Drainage, Attenuation, & Rain Water Harvesting Tanks
  • Anti-Vibration Slabs
  • Rolling Road
  • External Paving & Steps

Challenges

Throughout the challenges of the Covid pandemic, we worked closely with BAM to ensure the programme of works was carried out safely and without disruption. We devised specialist solutions to some of UWE’s new engineering building unique features, including:

  • Heavily-Reinforced Concrete Strong Wall for Engineering Lab Fatigue Testing

    Developed an internal frame to hold the high tolerance anchor points and advised on incorporating it with the rebar. This ensured that both reinforcement and formwork met buildability and tolerance requirements. The anchor points were set out by our engineer, incorporated into the shutters by our carpenters and positioned within 1-2mm.

  • Internal Floor Slabs Comprising In-Situ Concrete Retaining Walls, Multi-Level Floor Slabs Requiring Heave Board & a Radon Membrane.

    Successfully overcame this logistically challenging process, co-ordinating the construction of the walls and the pour sequence of the concrete slabs with the schedules of other on-site trades. We also devised a design for the slab edges to allow higher-level slabs to be poured before the lower-level slabs, in reverse of the normal sequence.

  • Precast Concrete Retaining Wall

    Assisting with temporary works and precision setting out processes to accelerate the programme.

Key results

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3,300m3

of concrete poured
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1,600m

of drainage installed
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3,400m2

of concrete floor slabs constructed
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4,600m3

of material excavated
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10,000t

of aggregates placed
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3,000m2

of paving slabs laid

Testimonial

“We wanted to express our thanks and appreciation for all the hard work and effort that has gone into designing and constructing the strong wall. An excellent collaborative effort by all. Working together, we can achieve excellent things. How construction should be!”

Richard Dewey | Project Manager | BAM Construction Ltd

Client: BAM

A leading force in the construction industry and renowned for their unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability. BAM operate across a diverse spectrum, covering infrastructure, construction, civil engineering, and energy.