RJD Engineering has had its biggest challenge yet, to supply and erect 1,300 tonnes of structural steelwork in to the centre of London. The building site is at the heart of one of the busiest thoroughfares of the capital, situated on the south bank of the River Thames close to Westminster Bridge.

Not only do they have the task of manufacturing the ground floor trusses each one 32 metres by 4 metres and weighing up to 55 tonnes, plus the complex design of steel latticework that will support the glazed canopy roof, they also have the logistic problems of ensuring the deliveries are on site by 7am to comply with the wide load restrictions operated in the city.

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Number 1 Westminster Bridge

With a manufacturing area of 42,000 sq ft coupled with 70 tonne capacity overhead cranes, RJD' s premises at Hellaby, Rotherham are well suited for this type of fabrication. The seventy strong, team of engineers, fabricators and support staff ensured the steel trusses were manufactured and delivered to meet the schedule and beat the 7am deadline.

With the tight deadlines governing the installation program, a team of twelve highly skilled RJD engineers are onsite throughout the build ensuring the installation continues smoothly, on time and on budget.

Vierendeel trusses

The completed hotel is due to open in 2010, having 960-luxury guest rooms each with uninterrupted views across the Thames, the 16 story building will also house conference facilities and will be home to the largest column free ballroom in the capital with span of 32 metres.

With the deadlines and complexity of design an innovative top down method of building has been adopted.

Ground floor trusses

Once the steel mega structure that supports building was in place, the ground floor slab was cast. This enabled the construction of the upper floors to get underway; while at the same time as the lower floors were being completed.
RJD's phase of the build is to be completed by August 2008, adding to their vast portfolio of successful builds in the Capital such as Park Plaza's Riverbank Hotel, the refurbishment of the Selfridge Hotel off Oxford Street, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and the Intercontinental Park Lane.

Veiw of the site

Within their home city of Sheffield, recent projects include the supply of structural steelwork for Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, bridges carrying Supertram and spanning the adjoining Park Square roundabout and, most recently, the refurbished Veolia combined-heat-and-power plant alongside the Sheffield Parkway.

Artist imprsession of the Hotel