JMS Engineers are leading the structural engineering for the redevelopment of the 'Boris Building', a circa-1913 structure in Hackney, when it was home to a firm specialising in the manufacture and repair of gas meters.

To accommodate a new third floor, internal works involve partially removing the oak trussed roof. Twin steel beams are installed beneath the roof, clamping the timber truss’s top chord, which allows the bottom chord and internal struts to be removed while preserving the arch integrity. The new third-floor steel beams tie the roof arch.

In the basement, secant piling enables full excavation with minimal de-watering. A reinforced concrete substructure supports the three-storey superstructure, which is built with hot-rolled steelwork to deliver a durable and efficient framework for this redevelopment.