FP McCann Large ‘L’ Wall Range Provides Temporary Road Retaining Solution on Sheffield University Campus Project
Status: Completed
Location: Sheffield Hallam University
Construction Alliance: SHU/BDP Arup/CBRE/BAM
Main Contractor: BAM Construct UK
Products Supplied: FP McCann reinforced precast concrete ‘L’ Walls 3.0 metres to 6.0 metres high
FP McCann’s large ‘L’ Wall retention system has been installed on a brand new university campus site in Sheffield. The Sheffield Hallam University city campus development consists of three new buildings around a public ‘University Green’ which will be at the heart of the site. Construction work began earlier this year and completion of the first phase is scheduled for summer 2023. The scheme is part of a wider campus plan to deliver a key gateway into Sheffield city centre.
Main contractor on the project BAM Construct UK is part of the Sheffield Hallam University Alliance which includes design consultants BD-Arup and facilities manager CBRE.
The 3 new campus buildings are being constructed on three different levels on a tight site. With changes in elevation, delivery vehicles are entering the site via a one-way ramped access route. Following a review of their in-situ wall options to retain the hardcore ramp, the in-house design and construction team at BAM Construct opted for an off-site manufactured steel reinforced precast concrete ‘L’ Wall system in recognition that this method of walling is a simple, fast process and eliminates the need for shuttering, steel foundation formwork and the pouring of wet concrete. An additional benefit of the ‘L’ Wall system is that no propping is required during construction.
FP McCann were approached by BAM Construct to provide a quotation for twelve large 4.0 metres to 6.0 metres high wall units in 0.5 metre increments. On securing the order, the units were delivered from FP McCann’s Byley depot in Cheshire. Additionally, ten further precast concrete ‘L’ Wall units, five measuring 3.0 metres high and five at 3.75 metres high were supplied from the Company’s Grantham factory.
The run of precast concrete ‘L’ Walls is acting as a retention barrier and once fixed into position on a concrete base slab, the hardcore ramping material was backed up against the ‘L Walls’ to provide the access route onto the site.
Commenting on the retaining ‘L’ Walls in place, James Hall, Senior Engineer for BAM Construct says, “After quickly familiarising themselves with the anchoring and levelling method, our construction team found the walls simple to set down. The precast concrete ‘L’ Wall units are a simple, durable and cost-efficient means of creating a material retaining wall, allowing us to work productively and confidently on the enabling works within the site’s build footprint.”
The precast concrete ‘L’ Wall units are available in heights from 4.0 metres to 6.0 metres from Byley and units measuring 1.0 metre to 3.75 metres from FP McCann’s Lydney and Grantham depots.
For further information on FP McCann’s walling solutions, contact the team at Lydney on 01594 847500 or email sales@fpmccann.co.uk
