The Vantage

From RIBA Stage 2 to on-site in just three months

Walsh took the design from RIBA Stage 2 to ‘start on site’ in just three months to mitigate delays that had been experienced in obtaining planning permission. This was achieved by taking the lead role in the early design process and focusing the team on providing the key information needed to produce the substructure production information.

By providing an adaptable design focused on the early release of substructure information, we were able to facilitate the contractor starting on site well ahead of the overall superstructure design. The building was delivered in September 2021 just in time for the all important September move-in date. By facilitating an early start, we helped the client secure a full year of critical revenue.

The Vantage is also a good example of balancing lean design and standardisation. We standardised all the column sizes across the building so that there were only six types across the whole project. In this way, the amount of formwork required (moulds used to cast the concrete) was reduced whilst the extra material needed was limited and cost impact minimised. The opposite approach was taken on the slabs which were optimised and a reinforcement rate of around 115kg/m3 was achieved (industry average for this type of slab would be closer to 130-140kg/m3).

This lean design approach also maximised sustainability benefits and by reducing the steel content we were able to achieve a LETI rating of “B”. Frustratingly, supply issues at the time of construction prevented the use of environmentally friendly GGBS (cement replacement) being used in the concrete. Had we used a normal quantity of GGBS a LETI rating of “A” would have easily been achieved.