Plymouth Hotel

 

 

 

Panels are manufactured on site and receive finishes (aggregate exposure, recess banding and window fitment) prior to fixing to the building. The manufacturing yard comprises five casting surfaces, each 4.5m wide x 45m long. There are mobile tents to protect the panel works as well as to allow the contractor to continue finishing operations inside the assembled tent structures. The site layout allows full access for ready mix concrete deliveries, transport lorries and cranes for lifting and erection duties.

 

The majority of panels are double bedroom panels weighing eight to twelve tonnes, with dimensions of 7.7m x 3m high. Larger ground floor panels, 8.7m long x 4.85m high weighing up to 25 tonnes have also been produced. On average each panel has two window openings, four lift inserts and eight connection points per panel. Most panels also possess projections, returns, up-stands, rebates and sill details for the three dimensional effect.

 

Chalcroft Construction were awarded the concrete cladding works and started on site in July 2005. Approximately thirteen panels are cast each week. The site has panel storage for 60 panels in finger racking, in the vertical, and for 20 panels on the ground. Wall panel erection onto the building will take five weeks. It is anticipated to erect an average of eight panels per day of lifting.

The site layout is designed such that approximately one third of the panels can be direct lifted from the site stock system on to the building. The balance will be transported via trailer through the site to the building (a distance of 100m). Erection will require a variety of cranes from 200t down to 50t cranes, located around the building.

 

Both coloured and structural concrete is supplied by Hanson Premix in Plymouth. The project was completed in 2006.