Clay Cross Town Regeneration

The DACES building comprises the demolition of the existing roof, internal floors and walls of the two-storey pitched roof masonry structure, to create a vertical extension with an additional floor and a two-storey lateral extension to the front of the building. The philosophy of the proposals is to retain the existing north, east and west masonry facades, maintaining the character of the existing building, but adding a modern twist with the metal clad extensions and flexible open plan spaces.

To achieve the proposals, Dice designed a steel frame providing lateral support to the retained masonry façades, new floors and roof. The steel frame is also extended outwards to support the new two storey extension. The steel frame has been designed to provide column free, flexible internal spaces. To minimise the weight of the structure and embodied carbon, timber roofs and timber Posi-joist floors have been specified in lieu of concrete slabs and steel purlins. 

Careful coordination was required between the new and existing foundations, to ensure that the existing facades are not undermined during the works. Cantilever ground beams have been designed in conjunction with piled foundations to support the steel superstructure.

A temporary façade retention system will be erected prior to commencement of the works.

The clocktower building proposals include refurbishment of the existing two storey adult community centre and an extension to the rear to create a new library and café. Again, the interface between the new and existing structures has been carefully considered to ensure that the proposals do not compromise the stability of the existing load bearing masonry structure. A steel frame has been designed to support the new extension which allows large clear spans over the new library with a pitched roof and large extent of glazing to the gable elevation. The steel frame is also designed to cantilever adjacent to the existing building such that it remains independently stable.

An existing underground railway tunnel sits in close proximity to the existing building and has been considered with proposed piling method for the foundations.

Dice also completed a detailed visual structural inspection of the existing 100-year-old building and made recommendations for remedial works to bring it up to a modern-day standard.

The new single storey incubation units will provide flexible space for popup retailers and business start-ups. Dice undertook a thorough optioneering exercise for the new structures including traditional load bearing masonry and modular or SIP construction. A steel frame solution was ultimately chosen due to the brief’s requirement for open flexible internal spaces and fully glazed front elevations.