Tesco Woolwich Central

Value engineering reduces materials & programme

Walsh value engineered this scheme right from the start and achieved total material savings of over £2.0m. This included a 6,000m3 reduction of concrete, 500-tonne reduction of reinforcement steel and 22,000m3 of soil saved from landfill. We also reduced the estimated build time by 6 months.

This versatile steel frame development is a significant step forward in the regeneration of Woolwich and demonstrated the difference that value engineering at an early stage can make.

Walsh drew on experience and expertise in post-tensioning to develop a grid of PT concrete band beams and slabs. This aimed to minimise structural depths, reinforcement and deflections. We also designed the podium level so that it helped to support the residential blocks overhead. The energy centre for the development spans across the roof of the store’s service yard, via a steel-framed structure. This frame is designed to be removable in the future allowing greater versatility for the development.

As well as this network of steel frame solutions, we also faced several challenges within the foundations. When developing the double-storey basement car park, we had to give special consideration to the two Thames Water sewers which run under the building. We used structural transfer walls and beams to effectively bridge these sewers.

Photography Credit: Benedict Luxmoor