Cley Marshes Visitor’s Centre - Cley Next-the-Sea, North Norfolk

Achieving a COMMENDATION Award from the East Anglian Branch for Structural Excellence

Presented to J.Stordy of Hale Allen Jones - Summer 2008

The visitor’s centre was a small but complicated structure. Cut into a sloping site, in a costal environment, on a chalk sub-stratum, it incorporated a stepped reinforced concrete strip foundation tied into a retaining wall and two separate RC slabs.

A ribbed steel roof arrangement curved in two planes was supported from an efficient steel superstructure involving four symmetrically splayed CHS columns and one main horizontal spine beam.

The need for maximising visibility from within the building was a key requirement whilst also creating an attractive structure which was visually appealing to the visitors but also did not impact heavily on the surrounding landscape.

Several other sustainable features were incorporated into the project such as a wind turbine, a ground source heat pump, a sedum moss roof and provisions for the future installation of a rainwater harvesting system.

Click on the link below to view the actual submission document we entered for the branch prize in 2008. Please note some references to several technical drawings are made throughout which, unfortunately, cannot be included due to copyright issues.

HAJ_Submission (5722k)

Office 1 -  Jarrold Whitefriars Development

Overall WINNER of the East Anglian Branch Award for Structural Excellence

Presented to M.Byatt of Hale Allen Jones - Summer 2003

This project comprised of designing a modern steel framed, glass and masonry clad, three storey office building on an existing print works site, located in the centre of the historic city of Norwich.  Archaeologically the site is of national importance, overlaying the remains of the Whitefriars Monastery, in addition to having standing sections of medieval structure including an arch and a crypt.  The site is also located immediately adjacent to the River Wensum and a grade 1 listed Yarn Mill.

In order to minimise the disturbance to the below ground archaeology the Structural Engineer carried out detailed investigations of the design and construction of the existing buildings which were demolished to make way for the development.  The existing foundations were incorporated into the design to support, in part, the new structure and the existing ground floor slab was also re-used in the final design.  In addition, the design of the new building encapsulated a medieval crypt (a grade 2* listed monument) which was then incorporated into the new office accommodation.

The creative structural engineering design carried out by Hale Allen Jones resulted in the archaeological excavation works being kept to a minimum, as they were not required in the areas where the re-use of existing foundations and floor slabs were adopted, as well as the creation of a stylish, elegant modern office building.

Click on the link below to view the actual submission document we entered for the branch prize in 2003. Please note some references to several technical drawings are made throughout which, unfortunately, cannot be included due to copyright issues.

HAJ_Submission (1410k)

Feature Roof - Lanchester Court, Norwich

Achieving a COMMENDATION Award from the East Anglian Branch for Structural Excellence

Presented to D.Chesher of Hale Allen Jones - Summer 2002

The design concept for this particular scheme was put forward to the client rather unexpectedly. A simple design solution was required that was both aesthetically and economically viable.

The feature roof was part of a much larger development and so the fact that it could be isolated from the main part of the build, gave us much more freedom of design. The resulting design prepared by Hale Allen Jones detailed a modern and contemporary roof that incorporated several visually distinctive features, fabricated from both timber and steel tension bracing systems and also serving as key structural elements, splicing form with function.

The main challenge to overcome was the fact that a distinctively individual solution was desired, within relatively stringent budget and time constraints.

Because we were allowed to take on all of the design responsibilities ourselves we were able to simplify the analysis of the frame by reverting back to basic structural design philosophies, minimising the amount of calculations required and enabling us to detail the entire roof with only a few A4 technical drawings and specification sheets, whilst still providing an end product that seemed original and was pleasing to the eye.

Click on the link below to view the actual submission document we entered for the branch prize in 2002. Please note some references to several technical drawings are made throughout which, unfortunately, cannot be included due to copyright issues.

HAJ_Submission (428k)