The Opportunity

We were asked to supply and erect the structural steelwork and install the metal decking and stairs for this new six-storey office building.

The Operation

During a sixteen week programme, steel was erected two floors at a time with column splices every seven metres. The structure is based around a large 10.5m x 9.5m grid pattern, which gives the building the required open plan environment. Stability is predominantly derived from one braced core and an eight level high moment frame located one grid line back from the structure's Tudor Street elevation.

Due to the structures glazed facades, along with the need for limited internal columns, there were few locations for bracings. Vertical bracing was used in the North West core, but because of its small area plan the aspect ratio proved too great to keep the building deflections within limits and therefore an eight storey moment frame was introduced to act in conjunction with the vertical bracing. This reduced horizontal deflections to acceptable levels without loosing floor space.

As the new steel frame starts at basement level and the design required the grid pattern to remain constant throughout the structure, a number of columns are positioned directly above existing piles.

For aesthetic value, the building's two street-facing facades are adorned with a single row of 12.2m high feature columns, which begin at upper basement level and top out at first floor level.

The Result

Located on the site of the former North wing of Unilever House, North of the Thames, 1 Tudor Street is a striking building with predominantly glazed externals, which  offers 6,555m2 of grade 'A' office space over seven levels.

Download full article on Tudor Street, New Steel Construction April 2009