Visit to WIG Engineering

Director Mark Harris captured these fantastic images last Friday. Mark and Emmanuella took Emma Kennedy and Philip Sharman from The Branch Trust to WIG Engineering to see first-hand the fabrication of the steel which is to be installed at the new Community Hub Project in Chipping Norton. A huge thank you to the WIG Engineering team for being so welcoming and taking time out of their day to show us around.

Structural Engineering Placement

Emmanuella has commented on how beneficial she found the visit. As a placement student she has been learning all about the structural design process during her time with us. Stepping out of the office, either onto site or to visit fabricators, expands her knowledge further. On Friday Emmanuella was able to see how WIG utilises our drawings to create a steel frame. She witnessed the whole process from what happens once the steel is received to how WIG apply their finishes. As WIG Engineering deliver projects across a variety of sectors including education, retail, commercial and residential it was enlightening to see the sheer scale of the work involved.

The Branch Chipping Norton

Emma and Philip from The Branch Trust have been hands on throughout the project and wanted to learn as much as they can about the building process. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to take them along to see such a major part of the construction. The steel seen on Friday will form the new 60-seater multi-purpose hall at the back of the property with a fully glazed southern aspect wall linking the building with the garden beyond. The design, by Acanthus Clews Architects, will feature a glazed rooflight along the length. This will deliver natural light to the centre of the building. Externally, vertically hung handmade clay tiles will link the extension to the aesthetic context of the adjacent properties.

Steel Frame Construction

The steel frame is to be installed onsite in the coming weeks. The Branch is set into the natural slope of the Chipping Norton geology, work to rationalise the levels throughout the building has seen almost 480 tonnes of soil being removed from site. Ground improvement techniques with grouting and the piling for the new hall have been completed by Savvy Construction and the site is ready for the steel. The building is only accessed off the Market Square in Chipping Norton, so everything comes through the old front door of the bank. We are looking forward to seeing the spider crane emerge at the rear of the site after tracking through the building on a temporary ramp. The steel will then be erected.

Do you have your own architectural challenge planned in the coming months? Contact the SOLID team to learn how we can help bring your dreams to fruition.