OUR WORK
C.A.S.P.A.R APARTMENTS – LEEDS: CITY CENTRE APARTMENTS FOR SINGLE PEOPLE AT AFFORDABLE RENTS
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s scheme in Leeds was set to prove that it is possible to develop an award-winning apartment block for the private-rented sector, then let it at below market rents and still make an attractive return on investment without any subsidy. The Leeds scheme was the second in a development blueprint programme called CASPAR – City-Centre Apartments for Single People at Affordable Rents. Architects Levitt Bernstein designed structure would boast larger than average 50m2 one-bedroom modular flats, comprised of some volumetric units, pre-fabricated by Potton Group offsite and semi-volumetric elements delivered flatpacked for assembly onsite by contractor Kajima, right in the centre of Leeds.
Following a super fast 36 week completion of the project, Atom Consultants’ Structural Engineers were called in to investigate signs of movement due to initial shrinkage of the timber in the pre-fabricated pods. The striking wood-framed curved building, which had won awards for sustainable design and innovation in low-cost urban housing, consisted of wooden walkways tilting towards the inner courtyard, suspended between a steel frame and the prefabricated apartment units. Due to the shrinkage of the timber in the pods the walkways begun to tilt towards the bedroom units. Our structural engineers were tasked with establishing whether the timber had stopped moving, hence we took 6 monthly readings and were able to confirm that the movement had substantially completed by end of year 1.
Meanwhile, further defects in the prefabricated pods were flagged up, namely leakages in the pipework and baths, leading to “spongy” floors. A few vacant flats were opened up for investigation, which led to further problems being discovered, such as inappropriate grade of flooring being used in the bedrooms, which was not in line with design requirement, as well as the stronger wall panels, intended for lower levels being used for upper floors.
All those issues could have been corrected, if only enough goodwill would have been applied. Let this case study be a force for good to remind people that good things can emerge from innovation, but it requires a mindset of unconditional nobility to persist in the face of adversity to develop excellence for all without financial advancement for a few only.
RESIDENTIAL:
” Atom Consultants have exhibited exceptional knowledge in the field of Modular Construction and this has been an immense assistance to Kajima in resolving many of the construction issues on CASPAR a venture into new methods of project delivery. “
Roy Marshall
Director
Kajima Construction
OTHER PROJECTS
Aquatics Centre – London
London Aquatics Centre,comprising a 50m competition pool, 25m diving pool and a 50m training pool, was erected for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The challenge to Balfour Beatty, the contractor, was to construct a building which meets the needs of Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
Blythswood Square Hotel – Glasgow
Blythswood Square (part of the PH Hotels) is an award winning, splendid 5-star spa hotel in Glasgow City Centre. Atom Consultants acted as Project Managers & Structural Engineers for the extensive refurbishment of this Grade B listed townhouse building.
Rhinefield House Hotel Brockenhurst, Hampshire
Rhinefield House Hotel is located deep within the New Forest National Park in Hampshire. Featuring an infamous Alhambra Room, inspired by the Moorish built Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain, this Hand Picked Hotel will embrace you with a warm welcome and keep your mind in zen mode during those long walks in their 40 acre grounds.
DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY STATIONS, LONDON: BECKTON CONTROL CENTRE, SHADWELL STATION & STRATFORD INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
Atom Consultants, at the forefront of latest technology, created an asset registry for interactive geospatial maps for several of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) metro stations owned by Transport for London (TfL), such as the Stratford International Station and the Shadwell Station.
Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE
The new Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Midfield Terminal Building in ADIA, UAE, built to accommodate up to 27 million passengers annually, is truly impressive in both design and build:
Great Yarmouth Power Station in South Denes
Great Yarmouth, in South Denes, is one of a new generation of highly efficient, gas–burning power stations, with the capacity to generate 400MW of electricity.The station was commissioned in 2002 and is one of the UK’s most modern stations, powered by natural gas using the latest generating technology – combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT).
Cleveland Clinic – Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, on Al Maryah Island, UAE, is a unique and unparalleled extension of US-based Cleveland Clinic’s model of care, specifically designed to address a range of complex and critical care requirements unique to the Abu Dhabi population. The facilities at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi combine state-of-the-art amenities and world-class service standards.
Logoplaste
The Portugese privately owned rigid plastic packaging manufacturer Logoplaste’s product list includes bottles for the Lucozade and Jose Cuervo drinks brands, and for detergent Fairy liquid.
Cooke Aquaculture Scotland’s Salmon Production Facilities in Furnace
Atom Consultants project managed the extension of a salmon hatchery for Cooke Aquaculture Scotland Ltd., a salmon farming company located in Furnace, a village in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland, on the north shore of Loch Fyne, the longest sea loch in the United Kingdom.