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WSP's Innovative Structural Solutions for One Blackfriars Tower
Technology Category
- Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges
- Sensors - GPS
Applicable Industries
- Buildings
- Cement
Applicable Functions
- Maintenance
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Building Automation & Control
- Structural Health Monitoring
Services
- System Integration
- Testing & Certification
The Challenge
WSP was tasked with providing structural solutions for the complex geometry of One Blackfriars Tower, a 50-story mixed-use development in London. The project site had varying depths and remnants of a previously demolished building, which posed significant challenges. The design also had to accommodate 274 apartments within the skyscraper, each with unique layouts and no repetition throughout the building. The team also had to design temporary on-site client facilities and ensure the structural integrity of the asymmetrically shaped tower. The project required a high level of collaboration with architects, clients, and contractors to deliver an elegant super-structure with spectacular views of London.
About The Customer
WSP is a global engineering professional services firm that provides technical expertise and strategic advice to clients in the Transportation & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings, Environment, Industry, Resources (including Mining and Oil & Gas) and Energy sectors. In this case, they were appointed to provide structural modeling and engineering services for One Blackfriars, a mixed-use development in London. The project features a 50-story residential tower, an adjoining three-story podium housing a gym and retail facilities, and a boutique hotel with 161 rooms, all built over a three-story basement with a swimming pool, spa, and parking facilities.
The Solution
WSP used Bentley’s RAM Concept and RAM Structural System to design the floor slabs for this geometrically complex building. The team used MicroStation to share 3D models and produce automated production drawings, which facilitated collaboration. The software allowed WSP to design a temporary three-story, steel-framed facility fitted with replica apartments to serve as the marketing suite. The team also used the software to design support columns that offered unobstructed views without intruding on the apartment spaces. The team modeled and designed 225-millimeter thick, post-tensioned concrete floor slabs, which proved the most cost-effective solution. Bentley’s interoperable technology optimized the column configuration and automatically generated arrangement drawings that were shared with the contractor for construction.
Operational Impact
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