Warners Bay Apartments, The Esplanade

Structural design services were provided by MPC for this lake-side residential development, comprising the construction of 5 and 3 storey reinforced concrete framed buildings, plus a series of 3 storey lightweight terrace buildings. These buildings were defined as being in a mine subsidence area subject to horizontal ground strains and vertical settlements. To satisfy mines design requirements, the two reinforced concrete framed buildings were constructed on continuously reinforced raft slabs with stainless steel slip joints under all building columns. This system was used to reduce horizontal forces applied to the foundation structure by minimising frictional effects. All retaining structures surrounding the carpark basements were independently constructed as separate elements to prevent horizontal forces being induced on to building columns. Building mass was also minimised through using the precast ‘Ultrafloor’ system supported on cast insitu concrete beams.