Practice Profile

Projects

About L+C

Founded in 1987, L+C Engineers have grown to become one of London’s leading structural engineering consultancies. Celebrating 27 years in business, the partners continue to build on strong reputation, supported by professional staff. A central London location provides excellent accessibility to local, national and international clients.

Quality, innovation, excellence in design and cost efficiency is at the forefront of our objectives as demonstrated in many past and current projects. We have a vast experience in refurbishment projects, which include commercial as well as residential buildings. In addition, our experience extends in the design of new build structures, as well as design of specialist structural elements including structural glass.

We look at alternatives, seek creative

solutions, and integrate the latest industry standards into our designs.

L+C Engineers are recognised team

players within a design group and exercise a unique set of high level skills in structural engineering that brings added value to the team. This is not an add-on service but one of the main principles of the practice: - to be the best at engineering in a practical, client-centered approach.

Expertise + Services

Our areas of expertise include the following construction sectors: Commercial and Industrial

developments Education and Healthcare Refurbishment, Restoration and

Historical Works Residential Special Structures

including new basement designs Sports and Leisure Sustainability Temporary Works including façade

retention Party Wall engineering services As part of our service we undertake the following: Structural and civil engineering design Inspection and assessment of existing

structures Economic appraisals and feasibility

studies Preparation of preliminary schemes

and specifications Evaluation of contract tenders Preparation of complete working

drawings Advice and design solutions to

problems resulting from fire damage, subsidence, instability or other structure failure or inadequacy.

Initiation of soil and specialist surveys Monitoring of construction works

338 Euston Road – Glass Structure

Butterfly World – New build

Marcol House – Temporary Works

People

All our principals are chartered engineers and members of the Institution of Structural Engineers. All projects are led by a principal/member of the LLP.

Member

John Lucking BSc PhD CEng MIStructE

Member

David Allen BEng CEng MIStructE

Member

Mark Duncombe BEng CEng MIStructE

Member

Lekë Gjinali BEng CEng MIStructE

Experience

JOHN LUCKING BSc PhD CEng MIStructE Special glass and steel structures; architectural engineering; behaviour of steelwork connections; design of building structures for commercial, industrial and residential developments; feasibility studies; structural investigations; advice on temporary works designs; expert witness. MARK DUNCOMBE BEng CEng MIStructE Alteration of existing buildings; design of new building structures; specialist in façade retention design; temporary works design; demolition advice; highway structures; bridge design. DAVID ALLEN BEng CEng MIStructE Design and evaluation of new and existing building and related structures, especially churches and institutional buildings; bridge assessments; public health works; listed buildings. LEKË GJINALI BEng CEng MIStructE Design of tall buildings; alterations of existing and design of new building structures; design of traditional self-supporting façade masonry walls; traditional and specialist timber structures; deep basement design.

Projects

Project: New House Surrey Client: Private Summary: L+C completed the structural design for this large private house in Surrey. The new house replaces a previous smaller property, but recreates many of its original details. The house is largely steel framed to allow maximum freedom in the room layouts. Of special note is the folded solid walnut feature stair.

Project: Egerton Crescent, London, SW3 Client: Private Summary: L+C carried out the structural design for this refurbishment of a mid terrace property in London crescent including the structural design and detailing of the structural glass feature stair. The stair treads are supported by the party wall and the glass wall balustrade. Structural steel anchors pass through the mirrored wall and are encased in stainless steel tube. The treads are clad with hardwood. The structural glass spine wall extends over two storeys and supports the stair between ground and lower ground levels

Projects

Project: Tregunter Road, Chelsea, SW10 Client: KHN Developments Summary: L+C are appointed as permanent works designers for this 30m long, two storey reinforced concrete basement supporting a new build 5 storey steel framed house above. The basement is formed using a hard-hard secant piled retaining wall and constructed bottom-up. The exterior and the shape of the new house are constructed to resemble the previously demolished Grade II listed house, as part of the planning condition. The new house includes a large 12m long swimming pool in the basement as well as a scenic glass lift which serves 6 out of the total 7 floors. As part of a design team L+C have worked closely with the temporary works engineers to coordinate the permanent works design with the proposed temporary propping and the construction sequencing.

Project: Knightsbridge, London Client: Private Summary: L+C provided consultancy services for the design of structural permanent works on this project, which included a complete refurbishment of the existing 5 storey house and forming a new rear single storey basement with a footprint over half of the existing garden. The basement was constructed using contiguous perimeter pile walls in a ‘top-down’ construction with reinforced concrete walls and slabs.

Projects

Project: Ladbroke Square, Kensington, W11 Client: Private Summary: A new basement was constructed beneath the existing house to extend the whole length of the property and underneath the rear garden. L+C were responsible for the permanent design of the basement which was constructed using a contiguous piled wall and concrete retaining structure above. L+C also provided the temporary works design and worked closely with the contractor to ensure careful sequencing of piling and underpinning operations.

Projects

Project: Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church Client: Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church Summary: This project involved the refurbishment of the original building to suit modern needs. L+C had been involved in previous surveys on the church over the preceding 8 years and developed a good working relationship with the Minister and Deacons. The work included removal of a curved wall which involved the propping of the main front wall containing the circular window, construction of a new lift shaft including underpinning of the tower to create the pit and the refurbishment of vaults into useable space.

Project: Motcomb Street Food Hall & 11A West Halkin Street Offices Client: Benchmark Group Plc Summary: This project involved major restructuring of an existing 1850’s three storey building with basement. The existing walls of the building comprise solid load bearing brickwork, with suspended timber floor construction supported by cast iron beams. The basement consists of solid brick division walls with arched brick ceilings which support the ground floor. Internally the building is dominated by two parallel arcades running north to south through the building from ground to roof levels.

The restructuring involved removal of the entire load bearing structure within basement and the ground floor to create a new open area retail food hall. This required extensive temporary works and construction of a new permanent steel framed structure. The first, mezzanine and second floor areas were refurbished and strengthened where necessary for use as office accommodation. Further works included installation of new plant on the roof, the construction of a sub-station at basement level, and construction of a new service yard.

Projects

Project: Mitre Court Chambers, Inner Temple Client: The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple Summary: The Chambers were extensively refurbished to provide modern standards of accommodation for barrister's chambers to the south of Sergeant’s Inn and within close proximity of Hoare's Bank. L+C carried out structural designs for works which included the installation of a new lift, removal of columns, upgrading of floor loading and the provision of modern services. The project required careful phasing of construction activities and decanting of existing tenants.

Project: Three New Buildings for Borough Market Client: Eiffel Summary: L+C were appointed to develop and complete the structural steelwork and glazing design of three new market buildings for Borough Market in Southwark. These buildings are arranged around the new railway viaduct and feature bridge over Borough High Street. All three buildings have novel glazing designs, particularly the main market building with overlapping glass panels tilted in the vertical and horizontal planes and secured by means of stainless steel clamps.

Project: Roehampton Gate, London, SW15 Client: GM Developments Summary: L+C provided structural engineering services for this new build 6 bedroom family house with a single storey basement and internal swimming pool. The superstructure was constructed using reinforced concrete walls, columns and suspended slabs. The basement was constructed ‘bottom-up’ using contiguous perimeter pile walls and reinforced concrete lining walls and slabs.

Projects

Project: Hoare’s Bank, 40-43 Fleet Street, EC4 Client: Hoare’s Bank Summary: L+C were appointed to Gibberd Architects in May 2010, as consulting structural engineers to advise on the refurbishment of No 40-43 Fleet Street, London EC1. The building is part of a complex estate owned by C. Hoare and Co., in the Fleet Street area. The works included a new single storey extension to the existing building at roof level, demolition and replacement of the existing stair and lift core, as well as construction of new flank walls as part of achieving an increased floor area in the building. The refurbishment also included lowering of the existing ground floor slab throughout the building, and the removal of two existing columns on the ground floor at the rear of the building where L+C designed a transfer structure in a form of a ‘double picture frame’ to transfer loads from existing columns on the first floor, to existing columns in the basement.

Projects

Project: Chester Row, London, SW1 Client: Private Summary: L+C provided structural design for the refurbishment works, which included construction of a new basement at the rear of the house as well as a full strip-out of the internal structure of the house and replacement with new. The original proposal included a basement beneath the entire footprint of the house as well as rear garden, which was initially rejected by Grosvenor Estates. Following close and lengthy negotiations between the Client and the design team with the Estates, a compromise was reached which allowed construction of a new basement beneath the rear garden of the house. The basement construction technique was top-down, where the top slab was cast over the existing garden as a permanent structure to restrain the previously installed contiguous pile wall, prior to excavating through the slab to form the basement beneath.

Project: Addison Crescent, London, W14 Client: Private Summary: L+C are appointed as permanent structural engineers responsible for the design of a 10m deep, three storey basement beneath the rear garden of the existing house. The new basement incorporates a box in a box swimming pool structure as well as a car park/ showroom at lower basement level served by a car lift. The basement perimeter wall construction includes a 750mm large diameter hard/soft secant pile wall with 16m long piles buried at least 3m into the firm clay strata.

Project: BMW Showroom, Enfield Summary: L+C were appointed as consulting structural engineers for the design of a new two storey showroom and sales facility for BMW with a floor area of 25000 m2. The new structure comprises steel frames open steel mesh flooring and structural glass. The dealership achieved 2005 “Dealer of the Year Award”.

Project: Butterfly World Client: Butterfly World Project Limited Summary: L+C were appointed as consulting structural engineers in 2009 to advise on the Butterfly World project which is set to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK with an estimate of 800,000 visitors annually. The 25 acre site, located near St Albans is designed in the shape of a Giant Butterfly with a Biome as its multifaceted eye. The tropical Biome will be the largest butterfly display of its kind in the world, measuring 100m diameter and 17m high. The outdoor area around the Biome is landscaped creating a series of gardens and meadow areas, designed to increase the sites plant and animal diversity and provide a unique educational, scientific research and recreational resource.

Projects

Projects

Project: Red Lion House, Mayfair Client: Private Summary: The Red Lion public house in Mayfair was largely rebuilt behind a retained facade, with a new 3 storey basement and swimming pool, to create a large new residential property. L+C were responsible for both the permanent and temporary works structural designs. The basement is formed within a four-sided box of contiguous piling. The retained facade had to be held in place while the rest of the superstructure was demolished and then while the basement was formed underneath. The aim was to create the maximum space within a very tight site.

Project: Marcol House, 295 Regent Street, London Client: Erith Summary: The Structural design by L+C included two systems, internal and external façade retention. The internal façade retention system was built over an existing restaurant at street level which had to remain functional throughout works. The system was designed such that part of the permanent structure was built top-down sequentially as temporary supports are removed.

The phasing of temporary works and installation of part permanent structure required careful sequencing to ensure that the temporary works as well as part permanent works would maintain stability of the façade at all times, and would allow unobstructed installation of all permanent works. The external façade retention was of more traditional nature comprising walling beams and external steel truss frames. However, kentledge was installed at first floor level, rather than the pavement of busy Regent Street.

Projects

Project: 5 Cheapside Client: ISG, AMSPROP Summary: L+C were appointed by ISG to design the temporary works which included a sequenced part-demolition of the stability reinforced concrete core throughout the existing building. The intricate analysis involved looking at a range of stability conditions at various demolition/construction stages. The analysis had a further complexity added to include for the extra lateral loading applied to the building from the tower crane, which was placed within the exiting lift shaft and tied to the 5th floor level. During the tender process L+C advised the Client on the viability to fully demolish the perimeter RC columns around the building rather than keeping a number of these as indicated in tender drawings. This was a non-compliant bid, which significantly assisted the programme of works and the construction/engineering of the new perimeter facade, based on which we were able to successfully secure the project.

Project Name: Arcadia Fashion Retail Academy Client: The Arcadia Group Limited Summary: L+C were responsible for design of major temporary works required to enable structural alterations to be carried out including forming of a new atrium and lecture theatre. We also carried out design and detailing of architectural steel and glass structures including the specialist stairs, balustrades and the entrance canopy.

Projects

Project: Astra Zeneca, RA Project, Alderley Park, Manchester Client: Eiffel Summary: L+C were appointed by Eiffel, the architectural steel and glass alliance contractor, to carry out structural design and detailing of several special structures as part of the development of a new headquarters building for Astra Zeneca. The Steel glass structures include an entrance façade and atrium, a 100 metre long linking atrium, a scenic lift shaft, a two storey hanging meeting room, six link bridges with glass decks and balustrades, and various stairs and balustrades.

Project: 46 Berwick Street, Soho, London Client: Reeks Sinclair Summary: L+C were appointed by Reeks Sinclair on behalf of the owners of the Grade II listed 1730’s property at 46 Berwick Street to carry out a structural design for the refurbishment works in the property, in line with the special architectural and historic interest of the building. The design carried out entailed preserving the existing historic structure, and where new elements of structure were added the materials and detailing specified where conform to the surrounding historical fabric. The timeline of the historical development of the property was researched extensively (photos, plans, and archives) in order to determine the original features of the building.

Project: 4th Plinth Powerless Structures Client: GLA & EC Harris Summary: L+C role was that of a checking structural engineer for the 4th plinth steel spreader plane-frame, which was to act as a base support for the new bronze statue of the ‘Boy in the Rocking Horse’ created by Elmgreen & Dragset. The original steel plate frame over the 4th plinth was designed by Arup and comprises a number of halfen type channels and fixing bolts which provide flexibility in terms of base fixings that can be achieved for a variety of 4th plinth exhibits. The exhibits themselves have their own bases, which require structural assessment and detailing in terms of how this interacts with the steel plate frame.

Projects

Project: International School of London Client: International School of London Summary: L+C were appointed as consulting structural engineers to advise on the structural feasibility of constructing a new build extensions and refurbishment works to the International School of London, in order to accommodate for the primary school classes which were being carried in the adjacent Church. As part of the feasibility assessment, a new 3 storey car park basement was considered adjacent to the existing school building, where L+C proposed a scheme utilising a propped pile system and a top down deep basement construction.

Projects

Project: Queen Street Place, London Client: The Blackstone Group Summary: Refurbishment of the existing Thames Exchange Building including major restructuring to increase the net lettable area and provide a modern entrance and central atrium area. The structural alterations included a single storey roof extension, infilling of existing atriums, forming of new atriums, installation of a scenic lift core with glazed bridges and construction of a glass entrance feature and stair.

Projects

Project: Apsley House, No.1 London, Grade I Listed Client: Department for Culture, Media and Sport Summary: L+C were commissioned by the department for Culture, Media and Sport via EC Harris for structural design in relation to the works that would allow the galleries to be opened to the public. This involved the installation of new staircases and the supervision of remedial works to the roof and the west wing bays. A structural appraisal and monitoring of the building was also carried out during the construction period. The works required close liaison and coordination with English Heritage.

Project: Bouverie House, 154-160 Fleet Street Client: Business Environment Summary: L+C provided structural design for the refurbishment works to the existing building which included extending the lift cores to allow for installation of three lifts in lieu of existing two. The structural works also involved lowering of the ground floor at the front of the building to accommodate the new reception and DDA compliant entry, as well as removal of columns in front of the new lifts throughout the building, which were replaced with a new transfer structure at first floor level.

Project: 338 Euston Road, London Client: Eiffel/British Land Summary: L+C carried out the design for a series of three storey replacement structural glass facades as part of a refurbishment of the British Land building. The ground floor storey utilises unusually strong double glazed panels, which span 3.8metres vertically without any additional structure.

Projects

Project: Camden Town Hall, Camden Centre, Grade 2 Listed Client: Camden Borough Summary: The Camden Town Hall includes the Camden Centre which is a Grade II listed building. The structural design included two new mezzanine floors constructed within the existing Camden Centre Hall, on the first and second floor, to provide additional office space for the Camden Borough. Part of the Clients brief was also to allow for future demountability of the proposed structure. The area around the existing stair tower included two new structures linked to the public realm proposals, construction of a new external lift adjacent to the stair tower and a new canopy on the Euston Road side.

Project: The Sign of The Don Client: The Sign of The Don Summary: L+C Engineers have been working at the original Don restaurant for many years assisting in the design of various alterations. The latest works involved adapting the adjacent building to provide access between the existing premises and the annexe new build premises. As per the character of the Don the structure was left exposed. In a separate area and several levels below the pavement a medieval cellar was sympathetically opened up and returned to its original use after several hundred years. All of these works were undertaken whilst the restaurant was trading.

Project: Collins Theatre Client: Eiffel Summary: L+C were appointed by Eiffel, the specialist contractor, to design and detail an unusual glass roof over the courtyard entrance of the new subterranean Collins Theatre in Islington. The structure comprises a steel frame of non-standard sections and triangular glass panels (all different). There is a central rotating ventilator of approximately 3 metres diameter.

Projects

Contact

Lucking & Clark LLP 31 Cowcross Street, London

EC1M 6DQ

Tel. 020 7336 8986

info@LCengineers.co.uk www.LCengineers.co.uk www.LCengineers.co.uk