Scope of Work: Barkers of Kensington, located on Kensington High Street in London, is a landmark department store with a rich history dating back to 1870. Originally founded as a small drapery business by John Barker and James Whitehead under the name John Barker & Company, it quickly grew into one of the most well-known and expansive department stores in London. As part of a significant £120 million refurbishment of the iconic Art Deco building, structural improvements were required to ensure the building could continue to serve future generations while maintaining its historical significance.
During the refurbishment process, engineers discovered that a substantial reinforced concrete beam at ground floor level was understrength. This beam, measuring an impressive 17 metres in length and 2 metres in depth, was integral to the structural stability of the building. Due to its enormous size and the complexities involved in accessing and modifying the existing structure, traditional strengthening methods were not viable. Any conventional intervention would have been highly disruptive, costly, and potentially damaging to the architectural features of the building.
To address this challenge, the structural engineers sought the expertise of CCUK, who proposed an innovative solution using carbon fibre strengthening. Sika Wrap 900, a high-performance carbon fibre wrap, was selected for its strength, flexibility, and ease of application in constrained environments. Up to seven layers of the material were applied along the underside of the beam to provide additional bending moment capacity. To enhance shear capacity, the same number of layers were applied in a U-shaped configuration at each end of the beam. This method allowed the team to reinforce the structure effectively without resorting to invasive and impractical traditional techniques.
The application of carbon fibre reinforcement proved to be both a practical and technically sound solution. The structural integrity of the concrete beam was fully restored, ensuring the safety and durability of the refurbished building. This modern approach enabled the project to move forward without delays or significant alterations to the historic fabric of the building. The refurbishment successfully balanced the demands of contemporary engineering with respect for the site’s architectural heritage, securing Barkers of Kensington’s place as a distinguished and structurally resilient London landmark.
