Groundforce supports Glasgow art school build

UK rental firm Groundforce - part of the VP plc group – has supplied hydraulic shoring equipment to contractor Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) for use on the £50 million (US$ 80 million) redevelopment of Glasgow’s School of Art this summer.

The redevelopment includes the construction of a new five-storey building, located opposite the Grade A listed building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh

The substructure of the new building required temporary propping during the construction of the double storey basement in an excavation measuring approximately 60 m x 34 m x 10 m deep. A total of nine hydraulic props were used: six at the upper level and three raking props at the lower level.

The Groundforce wireless load monitoring system was also used to measure the effect of the basement excavation on the surrounding buildings. Using the monitoring system also helped SRM to observe the lower level propping, which enabled the contractor to reduce the number of struts required.

Construction moved quicker than anticipated and the lower level props were removed in August, followed by the upper level props in September.

When completed the new building, designed by New York based Steven Holl Architects and Glasgow practice JM Architects, will house a range of studios and teaching facilities as well as workshops, communal areas and exhibition spaces.