The construction of four new office units on a brown field site in St. Albans Hertfordshire. Our works included the design on both the new substructure within close proximity of existing structure and also included the design of the superstructure of these two storey mixed office and storage units.

Load bearing masonry and steel frames formed the basis of the superstructure that in turn supported the steel and timber roves and pre-cast concrete first floors. Lateral wind loads on the flank walls were transferred to fixed moment frames on the rear and front elevations via the diaphragm action of both the ply lined timber roofs and via the diaphragm action of the pre-cast concrete planks and structural screeds.

Due to the high extent of window and door openings on the rear and front elevations, a series of steel beams, wind posts and steel frames were introduced to transfer both vertical and lateral window loads back to the first floor and roof diaphragms. Lateral loads were then in turn be transferred back to the flank and dividing masonry walls.