Atmosphere Controlled Warehouse.

The project at Braime Pressings Ltd involved the construction of a new atmosphere-controlled warehouse extension to their existing building at Hunslet Road, Leeds.   The development consisted of the demolition of a lean to portion of the dispatch area then the construction of an extension to the factory which will be used for the storage of metal products on a racking system.

We have had several unforeseen issues in the ground which we had to overcome before successfully handing over on 6th May.   These included.

• Redundant terraced housing cellars infilled with loose rubble up to 2.5m deep.

• 21m deep redundant shaft presumed to be a well filled with loose material, situated adjacent to an existing building which required underpinning works to support the existing structure whilst the well was treated with high pressure grout.
• Redundant stone foundations from previously demolished structures.
• Suspected contaminated land containing hydrocarbons.
• Existing floor slab subbase made up of rubble with voids which caused the existing slab to fail.
• Small well and culverts found underneath the existing floor slab.
   

Throughout the construction phase the client required the continuous use of the existing dispatch bay and a portion of the service yard to allow vehicles to access. 

We were also approached whilst on site with concerns regarding a section of the existing listed building adjoining our site, as some brickwork had fallen out inside.

After further investigation and advice from our structural engineer the building which was 19m high and adjacent a live road was deemed unsafe and in risk of collapse. Working on behalf of our client we liaised with Leeds Highways Dept for an emergency road closure, following this we had to demolish the building by hand and safely label and store the materials to re-build. We are currently working through the design process in tandem with our client and commencing works to re-build.