DisciplineStructural Engineering
LocationDe Beauvoir Town, Hackney
Client typeBasement
The brief
Historic industrial redevelopment
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.
Engineering response
Roof retention and new third floor
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.
Delivery detail
Basement and steel superstructure
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.