The project was originally designed on a piled solution as the building loads are up to 450kN/m2. We thought that an alternative could work and, with our designer engineers Coffey, we proposed a foundation strategy applying soil stabilisation techniques to the made ground beneath the foundations.

Around 20000m3 of material was treated in layers up to a total depth of 1.5m deep. The depth of treatment depended on the imposed loads and the ground conditions. The full depth was completed to the underside of foundation level achieving the 15% CBR specification.

Another 20000m3 or so of material was then treated in layers from finished foundation layer up to the underside of the stone replacement layer. This material achieved the 5% CBR design requirement.

The entire 35000m2 plot area was then treated to a depth of 300mm in one layer to eliminate the requirement for virgin aggregates. The engineered specification requirement of 30% CBR was complied with for this layer.
We started this project with some very poor ground conditions but transformed the site into a solid foundation for the building and the external construction.

The project was completed within the ten week programme period.