Directa (UK) Case Study
What happens when the Consulting Ground Investigation Engineers insist on a Piling Foundation Scheme but the Client says NO !!
Directa (UK) are a manufacturer and supplier of construction and industrial components and materials ie Signs, Tapes, Tools, Adhesives etc and space available on their land met with filled to capacity storage moved the way forward of a brand new 3,500 square foot unit.
As the land available was surrounded with a line of some 10 metre high conifer tree’s, a client led ground investigation report recommended the warehouse construction scheme be undertaken on a piled foundation and suspended slab method making coming out of the ground a costly section of the works.
The client Directa (UK) Ltd having already appointed the Architect and with Planning Permission granted the scheme was ready to commence on site. Bell Warehouse Systems attended a meeting with Directa (UK) and their Architects Arcady Ltd where we submitted costings for the new unit along with a proposal to work together with Arcady on an open book design and cost exercise in an attempt to find the most efficient method of sub-structure foundations whilst being faced with the urgent need to progress with the construction.
Having had costs from locally sourced ground works contractor’s in excess of £130,000 for the sub-structures elements alone IE £40 per square foot Bell Warehouse Systems drafted in our own Structural Engineers to come up with a sub-structure design solution which fits the nature of the soils along with being economically viable.
7875-cold-norton-raft-model-1 (See Attached Raft Model Proposal)
Our long standing relationship with our Engineers meant we could sit down with them and look at all other feasible options in order to satisfy our clients requirements and we were able to produce a scheme based on a Raft System and within 10 days on this new design bring submitted to our building control officers, Bell Warehouse commenced on site.
At the time of our pre-start meeting with our clients, we undertook a committment to carry out the entire Ground works package ourselves in order to keep costs to a minimum, a facility we consider is unique throughout the country which we now offer on a National scale. With us purchasing all our own materials and using our own Ground works crew’s not only can we guarantee the not to be beat most economic costs but we aren’t governed by lengthy lead-in times imposed by sub-contract companies.
Within Four weeks of our commencement on site the Raft was completed including a full drainage package for a cost of £53,000 a saving of some 60%.
With the Steel Work and Cladding now complete, we are now undertaking all the Electrical Fit Out works along with carrying out a number of remedial works and refurbishment works to the clients own existing units.
arcady-fire-strategy-dwg-07×09x04revd (Architectrual Drawings)
See Gallery for Photographs
