Project Profile: Cambridge MSM

Client
Willmott Dixon
Date of completion
September 2011
Value
£4.2m
Construction of 2 x raft slabs, 2,700m² at 1m deep and 680m² at 2m deep and 2 x Concrete Frames including External Works.

Scope of works

 

  • Construction of two raft slabs: 2,700m² at 1m deep and 680m² at 2m deep

  • Two RC frames

  • External works

To construct 2 x concrete frames 

  • Roof to electo-magnetic apparatus suite, 7m tall

  • Seven floors staggered ground floor to roof, floor heights between 3.5m and 5m

  • Total slab area of 9,800m²

  • Installation of high specification white concrete pre-cast balconies

  • Installation of pre-cast concrete stairs

External works

  • Retaining walls

  • Backfilling

  • Slab paving

  • Foundations and bases for external buildings  

 

 

Key project points

 

  • Waterproofing and drainage including HDPE drainage within the raft slabs

  • Reinforcement to the 2m slab was separated top and bottom by nylon spacers, to ensure no electromagnetic interference which is essential for the apparatus being installed in the building

  • The 2m deep slab was poured continuously on a Sunday to avoid congestion in Cambridge

  • This was the largest pour in the UK for some time 

  • After the pour the slab had to be thermally monitored to ensure that the concrete did not cure too quickly which would have caused extensive cracking and potential failure of the slab