The Challenge:
The Light Gauge Steel (LGS) frame was selected to reduce loads on to the foundations enabling the use of precast concrete piles.
The challenge was then to clad this structure with brickwork, carried out by Euro Building and Maintenance Contractors Ltd, without transferring the load through the LGS frame. This meant selecting a brick capable of standing five storeys with expansion tolerances accommodated through slip ties and expansion zones under windows.
The Solution:
The Metsec system was selected and due to the scale of the project two of the four approved installers, BR Hodgson Ltd and Mansell Finishes Ltd, were chosen to manage the risk and workload.
Opting for two approved installers also allowed the team to meet the tight construction programme. Self-erect pedestrian cranes were utilised for the construction of the five storey cluster flats with three in use at peak, while two mobile cranes were used for the town houses to erect the panelised system. These needed to be well coordinated to avoid the tower cranes on the Bowmer and Kirkland buildings.
The Impact:
One of the key benefits of using the LGS frame on this project was the ability to meet a tight construction programme: panels came to site in large wall sections and were erected quicker which allowed a storey of the building to be constructed in 7-10 days against 5-6 weeks for traditional brick and block construction.
Contributing to this, the LGS frame meant that the windows could be fitted ahead of brickwork thus getting the building water tight sooner. The Kier Construction Eastern BIM Team also worked closely with Metsec to utilise BIM for the design of the Metframe, assisting with 3D design coordination workflows and enabling fully co-ordinated service installations.
The use of the LGS frame had a multitude of benefits to both client and contractor, in addition to time saving there were also reductions in cost and this method of construction was ideal for the tight site as there was no need for large storage areas on site for bricks and blocks.
" Kier have delivered a great project and the LGS frame was quite a challenge and seemed impossible when first proposed. Turner and Townsend and Kier agreed the final account 4 weeks post PC which demonstrates a collaborative team effort on a project that had minimal change. "Joe Coyne Associate Director Turner and Townsend
View more projects
Every project we deliver is an opportunity for us to bring our unique thinking to solve problems, innovate and collaborate with our clients and beyond.
Berkeley Green & UTC South Gloucestershire & Stroud College (SGS)
Rising from the ashes of a decommissioned former nuclear site, SGS Berkeley Green, a converted 1940’s engineering hall, and new University Technical College (UTC) are the first educational buildings to be completed on a new ground-breaking GREEN campus, within Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park.
The Fulmar
The Fulmar is part of the Greenwich Peninsula Regeneration Scheme, consisting of three residential blocks, comprising 139 flats, surrounding a central landscaped podium courtyard. The blocks range in height from four to 10 storeys, housing 60 apartments for outright sale, 19 for intermediate (shared ownership) and 60 for rent properties.
Bolanachi Building cladding and fire stopping works
A cladding project delivered using an innovative Gridline System and underpinned by strong resident engagement.
St Albans Place
Constructing an 18-storey, concrete-framed student accommodation block in the centre of Leeds, close to the A64, consisting of 376 studios with communal dining areas, cinema room, gym, coffee lounge and a management suite.
Morley House
The redevelopment of a Grade II listed block on London's Regent Street providing 1,021m² of high-quality retail space on ground and basement level, and 44 new homes for market rent. Achieving the equal highest Considerate Constructors Scheme score ever recorded in London.
Global Student Accommodation (GSA), Exeter
We completed Clifford House, a student housing association project, for Global Student Accommodation (GSA), two weeks early. It’s our second project for GSA and provides state-of-the-art student accommodation for 312 students studying at Exeter University.
St Julie’s Catholic High School
Building a new school for 1,100 students within the grounds of the original. Abiding by strict environmental regulations and generating a wealth of social value within the local community.
Park Hill
Refurbishing phase three of the derelict, Grade II-listed Park Hill Flats estate to form 356 bedrooms of student accommodation while respecting the identity and integrity of the iconic building.
Tapestry, King’s Cross
Tapestry provides an outstanding collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments, townhouses and penthouses. Set over 10-15 storeys, the 33,000 sq m development integrates extensive public realm and leisure facilities for the residents of the 129 apartments.
Astrea Academy Sheffield - Secondary School
Construction of a secondary school to create much-needed school places in north east Sheffield
Network Rail Burnt House and Three Horse Shoes crossing upgrades
The design, installation and commissioning required for the upgrade of four level crossings in Burnt House Drove and Three Horseshoes.
Cheltenham Ladies College, Fitness Centre
The addition of high-class sport and leisure facilities for one of the UK’s most distinguished private schools has created flexible, multi-purpose spaces wrapped around the existing centre. Alongside a new sports hall, activity studios, squash courts and a gym, are additional changing rooms, a MUGA and new car park.
Astrea Academy Sheffield - Primary School
Restoring a listed local landmark to its former glory to create a brand-new school for North East Sheffield.
Stephen Perse Foundation
The design and construction of a new teaching block and first-class sports facilities.
St Mary’s RC Primary School, Malton
Constructing a new annexe as well as a reconfiguration of the existing school in order to ease pressures on pupil oversubscription.
Reigate Grange Care Home
Creating a three-story luxury care home with a range of amenities and landscaped gardens.
Everards Meadows Phase 1A
Creating a vibrant destination in Leicestershire, incorporating a new cycle centre and cafe as well as site-wide green infrastructure.
Delivering high quality and value for money fire safety works
Deliver a full range of fire safety works annually, including compartmentalisation, warning systems and fire doors across a range of property types with a wide geographical spread.
Chesterfield Borough Council partnership
Utilising assets and facilities management to enable Chesterfield Borough Council to generate significant annual rent to fund services.
Everards Meadows Phase 1B
Working collaboratively with Everards to regenerate land previously occupied by their brewing facilities, for the benefit of the people of Leicestershire.
Parkside Estate: planned maintenance
Delivering a major programme of internal and external planned works for Clarion Housing across 17 high-rise blocks in East London. The programme included kitchen and bathroom updates, mechanical and electrical renewals, roof, brickwork and concrete repairs, groundworks, fire safety and redecorations.
North Sea Observatory
A unique purpose-built marine observatory on the Lincolnshire coastline.
Dixons Sixth Form
Refurbishment and fit-out of a six-storey 19th-century mill building and coach house with a new build sports hall in Bradford for Dixons Academies Trust, maintaining the building’s heritage and ensuring it is suitable for teaching.
Chemistry of Health, University of Cambridge
Providing space for the study of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Aspect Court Refurbishment
£1m refurbishment of levels five and six of Sheffield Hallam University’s Aspect Court building to create space for degree apprenticeship students and an innovation hub
Fire safety delivery and resident liaison
Delivered fire stopping and compartmentalisation to 18 fully occupied tower blocks carrying out works on a strict weekly timetable to minimise disruption to residents.
Diana Princess of Wales Hospital Staff Accommodation
Construction of new staff accommodation at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital for staff and student nurses
The Springfield Sixth Form Centre, Dewsbury Learning Quarter
Construction of the Springfield Sixth Form Centre, beginning the development of the Dewsbury Learning Quarter for Kirklees College
Residential Home Sprinkler Install
A retrofit installation of a fire sprinkler system into 63 one and two bedroom flats and communal spaces in a residential home at Ragallo Place in Kent.
The David Attenborough Building
Updating an icon, providing pride of place for Charles Darwin’s finds, creating a prominent spot for a fully-fledged Finback whale, and being test abseiled by Sir David Attenborough.
Planned Works Framework
We deliver works to a broad variety of property archetypes, including leasehold properties, purpose-built and conversion flats, terraced, detached and semi-detached houses, estates-based properties, high and low rise blocks, sheltered housing and listed buildings.
Stowlawn Primary School
Procured through the Scape National Minor Works Framework, this scheme involved the construction of a new primary school provision at the existing Stowlawn Primary School in Bilston, Wolverhampton. Unique to this project was the building’s existing Passivhaus principals and bespoke brickwork façade.
Spring Vale Primary School
Procured through the Scape National Minor Works Framework, this extension and remodelling project has increased the School’s capacity whilst improving their Ofsted rating from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’.
Stonegate
The Stonegate development will see 113 new homes providing a range of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom properties.
University of Essex STEM Centre
Creating a state of the art teaching centre for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Waterside Student Residences
A joint venture with Kier Major Projects for the University of Northampton. The project marked the first time Kier had committed to a large-scale Light Gauge Steel (LGS) frame project and is the largest LGS project to date in the UK.
Sheraton Park Student Accommodation
Updating Durham University student accommodation, refurbishing and converting one block and demolishing and rebuilding a second, catering for a mixture of mixture of undergraduates, post-graduates, returning students, and includes a mix of en-suite bedrooms, studios and accessible bedrooms.
Pipe Bridge Remediation Scheme
Working with Severn Trent Water (STW) to deliver the pipe remediation scheme, monitoring pipes carrying sewage around bridge sites.
Sensor City
Creating a ‘Knowledge Quarter’ for Liverpool, a collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, delivering a highly adaptable research environment and incubator space for start-ups and SMEs who are developing digital sensor technologies and applications.
Watford Riverwell
Delivering the £450m Watford Riverwell as a 15-20 year joint venture with Watford Borough Council, which involves regenerating 70 acres of land in West Watford to create residential, office, retail, leisure, industrial and hotel space.
Sainsbury Wellcome Centre
A unique, world-class, state of the art neuroscience research institute at University College London.
West Burton CCGT Power Station
Kier was selected to construct a new 1,300MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. The site is adjacent to the River Trent and the existing coal fired power station.
Slade Green Regeneration
The simultaneous extension and refurbishment of two neighbouring primary schools.
Yr Egin Media and Office Development
Bringing an iconic and sustainable development to the Carmarthen campus of the University of Wales, providing 40,000 sq. ft. of accommodation for for Welsh Media company S4C and the University's new media faculty and offices, and achieving a BREEAM Excellent certificate for sustainability.
Falmouth School Sports Pavilion
The design and construction of a sports pavilion, including FA compliant changing facilities, gym, office space and flexible recreation areas. In addition a first floor balcony was incorporated into the design which overlooks the sports pitches.
Cathedral School
Creating a two-form entry primary school within a Grade 1 listed building.
Harris Girls' Academy Bromley
The demolition, refurbishment and three-story new build of a local all-girls school located in South London.
Oakwood High School
New build secondary school developed under the Education Skills and Funding Agency's (ESFA) Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), providing modern accommodation with increased pupil capacity and facilities for classrooms, in addition to a Learning Resource Centre which integrates with pupil breakout areas.
National Transport Design Centre
The UK – and Coventry as a city - is well-established as a leader in automotive, aerospace, rail and marine design. Coventry University’s National Transport Design Centre (NTDC) aims to boost design innovation in the transport sector and bridge the current shortfall in creative skills.
Hawkhead Village
Transforming the former site of Hawkhead Hospital into Hawkhead Village, a residential community bringing together restored Art Deco buildings and new homes. Achieving Show Home of the Year in the Scottish Home Awards 2015 and Best Renovation/Conversion in The Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2017.
Manor Kingsway
Transforming the former Manor and Kingsway Hospitals situated 1.5 miles west of Derby city centre, creating a diverse and thriving community of 700 homes with recreational facilities, retail space and a business park to create 450 jobs.
Ingoldmells Sewage Treatment Works
Repairing the roof of the Ingoldmells sludge treatment building, using an alternative solution to improve efficiency and reduce cost.
Gibraltar Point Visitor Centre
Creating a new visitor centre at this Site of Special Scientific Interest after the previous one was damaged by a tidal surge, ensuring its protection from flooding and its coastal position, incorporating sustainable features and refurbishing an 1800s coastguard building to be used as an exhibition space.
Hopewood Campus
Creating a purpose-built facility for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Perinatal Services. Providing support for adolescents, pregnant women, and women with a babies up to one year old who are experiencing mental health difficulties.
Keelby STW sludge holding tank lining
Kier's innovative water solution maintained a communities vital asset and reduced costs for the client.
Harlow Rugby Club partnership
Unlocking new homes through partnership working in Harlow.
Don Valley Academy
New build secondary school developed under the ESFA’s Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), providing modern accommodation with increased pupil capacity for 1,200 pupils and 300 post-16 students.
Cross Keys Homes
An innovative joint venture to provide much needed housing to parts of the East of England.
Chalcots Estate, call to action fire risk work
Assisting with the evacuation of 650 families from the estate after receiving a call from Camden Council at 5.30pm on Friday 23 June 2017, undertaking emergency fire remedial works, working overnight to fit fire door closers and carrying out an additional programme of fire upgrade works.
Caol Joint Primary School Campus
Designing and constructing of a new joint campus school for The Highland Council to incorporate two neighbouring primary schools, Caol Primary School and St Columba's RC Primary School, together with a community facility.
Bilston Urban Village
Developing a collection of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes, creating a mixed tenure development that will bring 58 homes to the open market along with 20 new affordable homes and supporting a group of local trainees.
Huntington Community Primary School
Blending traditional and innovative solutions to create a new-build, two-storey, 420-place primary school and 26-place nursery in Chester.
The Grove School
Undertaking a major refurbishment of a former Council building, originally a late Edwardian school, into a new school in Haringey, for 104 students aged 5–19 who have a primary diagnosis of autism.
Balaam Wood
Kier Living was responsible for creating the revolutionary and award-winning mixed tenure, sustainable and affordable new community in Birmingham. The project delivered a range of house types to appeal to the broadest demographic possible with the aim of giving residents an extra 10% living space.
Tiger Way
Kier Design and Business Services working in partnership with the London Borough of Hackney to deliver mixed-use developments and education schemes to create revenue for further local investment.
Aureus Secondary School
Delivering a new secondary school on the Great Western Park Development in Didcot, ensuring it was completed in time for the start of the new school year, creating extensive outdoor sports facilities as well as a building for 1,200 students and working alongside contractors delivering housing projects.
Sheffield Hallam University Robert Winston Annexe
£1.4m installation of a modular, two-storey extension onto Sheffield Hallam University’s Robert Winston Building, located on SHU’s Collegiate Campus.
The Chase SEN
Converting and regenerating a disused engineering building at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to create striking new modern facilities for disabled students.
Alperton Community School
The build of a new school and demolition works of the old premises, increasing capacity from 750 to 1700 pupils.
Degree Apprenticeship Centre
Revolutionary in its design, the first Degree Apprenticeship Centre on the Warwick University Campus marks a new stage in the University’s teaching programme. The new three-storey 2,400m² innovative development centre provides a bridge from education to industry.
Bartholomew School
Enhancing the estate of an already ‘outstanding’ Ofsted school to provide up-to-date facilities, fit for 21st-century learning.
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls
Building a brand new 8 form of entry school situated in Thamesmead in South East London. The new school holds 1,200 pupils and includes teaching spaces, science laboratories, ICT suites, a dance studio, art and music rooms plus a large four court sports hall and hard court play area.
HMP Five Wells
The new prison at Wellingborough will be an adult male Category C resettlement prison, designed to enhance rehabilitation. The project is embracing a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and integrating digital tools to drive efficiencies in the design, construction and operation of the facility.
The Institute for Innovative Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT)
New state-of-the-art research centre, the Innovative Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT) building, situated on the Swansea University Bay Campus provides future proof, highly specialised laboratories for fundamental and applied research and delivers a high impact, transformative research environment for industry and academia to collaborate in advanced engineering and materials.
Hawthorne Primary and Nursery School
A modern primary school in Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, for an expanding local community that involved pupils throughout the build delivered through the Scape Minor Works Framework by Kier and Arc Partnership
Swansea IQ and YFforwm Development (SA1)
Delivering £32m first phase of new Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter to provide a 21st-century state of the art education facility to attract students from all over the world to the University of Wales Trinity St David.
Toddbrook Reservoir Spillway Emergency Response
Emergency response to prevent the failure of the auxiliary spillway at Toddbrook Reservoir, Whaley Bridge.
Springhead Park Primary School
Springhead Park Primary School is a brand new modular two-form of entry with additional 26 nursery spaces in Ebbsfleet, Kent. The new schools holds 420 pupils ages from 3 – 11. The building includes teaching space, food tech facilities, science laboratories, multi-use agency space and hard court play area.
Gosport Borough Council - responsive repairs and planned maintenance
Delivering responsive repairs and planned maintenance to 3200 homes in Gosport as well as specialist works including gas systems, electrical works and major disabled adaptations. Every year we deliver over 12,000 repairs and take approximately 17,000 calls.
Northstowe Secondary College
Delivering a 600 place Secondary School with 12 form of entry core facilities, as well as a 110 place SEN School and Energy Centre for Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust (CMAT) on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.
Alness Academy – virtual transition model
With Covid-19 restrictions preventing in person site visits, our virtual transition model supports pupils and teachers to familiarise themselves with their new building and access useful information to support their transition and adjustment to the new school environment.
Leaving a lasting legacy: Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School
Construction of a new £30m building for Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School, providing 1,200 school places and ensuring social value was delivered throughout the project.
Iffley Academy
New-build construction of a community Special Academy judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2019, for pupils up to the age of 18 with complex special educational needs and disabilities. The new academy replaces unfit for purpose old buildings, adding animal care, horticulture and construction facilities, a mock flat and pupil-run café.
Whitelands Academy, Kingsmere
A brand new 600 pupil secondary academy school for years 7-11, built to support Kingsmere, a new housing development in south-west Bicester. Constructed to BREEAM principles, the academy features 26-classrooms, SEN provision, a four-court sports hall built and fitted to Sport England standard, external social spaces and multi-use games areas.
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
Design and construction of two replacement buildings as part of a 1,100 pupil school in Canterbury, Kent, providing 7,500m² of teaching space across a range of traditional classrooms and learning areas with specialist areas for art, science and technology. The second phase, currently underway, includes asbestos clearance, demolition of the existing school buildings, construction of a car park and MUGA area.
Hartsdown Academy
Hartsdown Academy is a secondary school with academy status located in Margate, Kent for circa 1000 students aged 11 to 18. The project was completed over two phases where phase one comprised of the demolition of two existing school buildings and the construction of a new three storey teaching block. Phase two involved the demolition of three existing school buildings and the installation of a new pre-fabricated modular building.
Spa School, Camberwell
Spa School Camberwell is a co-educational special school for students aged 5 to 16 with autism. Construction works included the structural alteration, internal remodelling and fit out of a three storey Victorian building with a three storey new build extension. It has the capacity for 120 students and 80 staff.
Cattle Market Road, Bristol
Saving carbon, fuel and costs through the use of Solar Hybrid Towers at Cattle Market Road site in Bristol
Ponteland School & Leisure Centre
Ponteland School & Leisure Centre features a 420-place primary school and a 1,600-place secondary school, a state-of-the-art leisure centre with swimming pools, aqua play, spa, gym, climbing walls, dance studios, soft play zone, a 3G sports pitch, bar, cafés, library and a new community fire station.
Al Barsha Residential Development
Construction of two identical semi- commercial and residential developments, consisting of a common ground floor and two common podium parking levels, 12 floors of residential apartments and a gym floor at roof level and external works including two swimming pools. The total built up area of the project is 72,940 sqm.
Ebbsfleet Green Primary School
The design and construction of a new modular build 2FE primary school within Ebbsfleet Garden City, Kent, catering for students ranging from nursery to year six. The school also includes a specialist resources for up to 15 pupils with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder plus a 26-place nursery.
The Heights Primary School, Reading
Constructing a new primary school to address the shortage of pupil places in Reading, Berkshire.