From a chance meeting with this private client and after a few architectural sketches were presented, Foundations Solutions UK advised on all aspects of the modern methods of construction (MMC) available and presented costed proposals. The client’s choice was to go with our offer on a building using ‘Insulated Concrete Formwork’ (ICF). The lower ground floor concrete structural slab was designed to support the 255mm wide reinforced concrete structural walls formed using the ICF formwork and components. The buildings ‘lower ground floor’ insulated perimeter wall lift was installed and cast in concrete within 3 weeks. The upper precast concrete block & beam floor supported on both external and internal load bearing walls was placed in a single day and completed the following day. The upper floor ICF building wall envelope, reduced to 150mm thickness since there was no requirement for them to retain any external imposed loads, once constructed, provided an instant ‘Thermal Frame’ to the building ready to accept the Sedum roof structure supported by structural steel frame grid, with connections to the exterior concrete walls and floors.

Our work on the project included:

• Design Build & Construction.
• Project Management & Consultancy
• Initial site survey and establishing site control measures.
• Excavation, 750m3 soil & rock.
• Land drainage, External tanking, Service installations
• Design of reinforced concrete slab, retaining walls, ICF wall envelope & floors.
• Precast concrete staircase and engagement of ‘Specialist Structural Steel’ contractor.

Foundation Solutions UK have worked with Green Unit to deliver Modular Prefabricated buildings, created and built to ‘Passive Haus’ standards. These buildings are built offsite in modular form and transported to site for final lifting into place. They form offices, visitor centres, residential homes, schools and much more using combinations of units and internal finished. Where ground conditions dictate as well as the least impact on the site is required, we are able to install a grid of ‘Mini Piles’ with a concrete pile cap to support the modular frame structure. The buildings can be elevated above the existing ground to minimise excavations for foundations and service connections.

Lench Trust Headquarters, Birmingham

10 Modular units supported on 22 steel cased  150mm Ø driven piles and reinforced concrete pile caps. Minimal excavation, no soil carted from site, low impact.

Construction using Lightweight Gauge Steel Frame (LGSF) Ground Floor +3, External Wall Insulation (EWI), clad in brick skin. Project delivered in 12 months from demolition to handover.