Lightweight Concrete Lifts London Redevelopments
Lightweight concrete has been used by Capital Concrete in two major London-based renovations, both relying on the material’s specialist characteristics in weight sensitive environments.
Over The Underground, King's Cross - 22 Handyside Street
The most recent of these projects, designed by J Coffey architects, took place in Handyside Street, King’s Cross, part of a series of planned redevelopments in the 67-acre King’s Cross Estate to uplift and rejuvenate the area. Working on a property above the underground railway tunnels of King’s Cross, the weight of the concrete was critical in this high-profile refurbishment.
To meet the project’s specifications, a lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) with a plastic density no greater than 1800kg/m3 was required for the slab to prevent excessive weight causing issues with the London Underground tunnels beneath. Argex Expanded Clay aggregates was chosen for this application, utilising a blend of Argex coarse and fine aggregate to achieve a pumpable grade, strong, low density concrete mix.
The Busy Old Street Roundabout and Tube Station, London
A similar lightweight concrete mix was supplied by Capital Concrete in J Coffey Construction’s remodelling of Old Street roundabout – traditionally one of London’s busiest road junctions, and an equally significant site for refurbishment. The project is to modernise Old Street Roundabout and Tube Station in the heart of London, helping to provide a contemporary public space and improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the junction, with segregated cycle lanes and signal-controlled pedestrian crossings. This has involved work to the station’s entrances and traffic islands, including the excavation of existing footpaths and the construction of new pedestrian entrances.
Given the future volume of public traffic, specifiers needed a concrete material that would perform well in the project’s high traffic, weight sensitive areas. In response, a lightweight concrete was supplied by Capital Concrete to achieve results that more traditional mixes alone would not deliver. The material’s reduced structural loading – as well as increased thermal properties and greater fire resistance – secured it’s choice by specifiers.
Jack Sindhu, Technical Manager for Capital Concrete, said: “These projects demonstrate the importance and relevance of lightweight concrete in modern construction and the various applications the concrete can be used for. The requirement for lightweight concrete by specifiers is proving to be a valuable asset when working in complex urban landscapes.”
If you are interested in finding out more about lightweight concrete, then please visit our Capital Concrete website, or contact one of the team on 020 3974 0520.