Belgrove House

Using advanced analysis to unlock a faster, lower-cost construction solution

Commercial / basementConstructionLondon, UK

Deep basement excavation with retaining walls, propping and reinforcement between existing buildings.

The decision

Problem

Temporary works and the permanent embedded retaining wall are usually treated as separate problems, which limits the solution.

Evidence

The actual construction sequence, the ground conditions and the interaction between temporary and permanent works.

Analysis

Staged soil-structure interaction analysis to demonstrate behaviour, forces, movements and construction-stage performance with sufficient confidence to support the design.

Decision

The retaining-wall and temporary-works solution was designed around the real sequence rather than around a worst-case envelope.

Consequence

Significant material cost and programme savings that were justified by engineering evidence and could therefore be built.

Outcomes

Commercially better solution, unlocked by rigorous staged analysis.
Behaviour, forces, movements and prop forces demonstrated with confidence.
Material cost and programme savings justified through engineering evidence.