Overview

This project involved the delivery of a new-build retail unit on the site of a former public house. The redevelopment required a sensitive structural approach to navigate the footprint of the previous building while meeting the strict technical requirements of the commercial landlord.

The challenge

While deep foundations were originally anticipated due to boundary trees, the start of site works uncovered significant unmapped basement structures and unexpected ground conditions. These obstructions made the planned trench foundations unviable and threatened to bring the construction programme to a total standstill.

The structural strategy

To maintain project momentum, we issued a full piling redesign on the same day the obstructions were found. This allowed the contractor to obtain immediate pricing and secure a piling rig without losing their slot. Using our Revit expertise, we coordinated the steel frame and masonry turrets in 3D to ensure the structure cleared all landlord constraints and navigated the old basement footprint with precision.

Outcome

Our rapid intervention prevented costly site delays and provided a robust foundation strategy that turned a major site risk into a manageable technical solution. The resulting structure was material-efficient, fully coordinated with the architectural intent, and delivered on schedule.