Kingston University Town House project underway

Offsite structure approach for PCE and Willmott Dixon

PCE Ltd are adopting an offsite structure approach for the new Kingston University Town House building project which is now underway in Kingston upon Thames near London.

Kingston University appointed RIBA award winning Grafton Architects for their new landmark teaching building for their Penrhyn Road campus. The six storey building will be the first UK building for the Ireland based company, who have built up a prestigious international portfolio for their design capabilities for university statement buildings. Concept illustrations courtesy of Grafton Architects.

The Kingston University London Town House page of the Grafton Architects website states:

"The organisation makes a three-dimensional matrix, one singular complex space, which links the various elements of the brief to one another, while at the same time giving each its own identity and privacy. Spaces and uses interlock, overlap, connect physically or visually. This environment encourages collaboration and exchange."

Hybrid construction solution

PCE worked with Wilmott Dixon during the tender phase to develop an offsite fabricated hybrid solution for the concrete frame, the majority of which is exposed and requires a high standard of finish with architectural finished concrete being used for 175 external mullion and spandrel panels and over 300 beams and columns. Casting of the precast units commenced in June and construction of the hybrid structural frame using two tower cranes commenced in August for what will be an on site period of just 40 weeks for PCE.