Unicentre Preston

Scope of Work: A 12-storey former government building in the centre of Preston has recently been acquired by a local property development company for a large-scale redevelopment project. Plans are already underway to convert the building into 122 modern apartments along with serviced office spaces. This redevelopment aims to breathe new life into the building, transforming it into a high-quality mixed-use facility that contributes to the revitalisation of Preston’s city centre.

As part of the redevelopment, the client required new air handling ducts to be installed, which involved passing through the existing reinforced concrete slabs on each floor. However, with a relatively low soffit height and additional service ceilings planned for installation, traditional strengthening methods would have been too bulky and would have further reduced ceiling clearance. The project required an effective yet unobtrusive solution to reinforce the slabs around these new openings without compromising headroom.

To address this challenge, carbon fibre strengthening was chosen for its slim profile, high tensile strength, and efficient installation process. The use of carbon fibre allowed for reinforcement without adding unnecessary bulk, making it ideal for maintaining soffit height in this restricted space.

CCUK’s skilled installation team prepared the concrete surfaces around each of the new duct openings with precision, ensuring that they would form a strong bond with the reinforcement material. They then applied two layers of Fibre wrap, CCUK’s specialised carbon fibre strengthening system, around each opening. This system was designed to effectively redistribute stresses caused by the cut reinforcements, ensuring that the structural integrity of the slabs was preserved without adding to the building’s footprint.

The project was completed successfully, with all new air handling ducts installed precisely and structural integrity maintained across all floors. The carbon fibre solution allowed for discreet yet robust strengthening, meeting both the engineering requirements and the spatial limitations of the redevelopment. This innovative reinforcement technique enabled the developers to retain crucial ceiling height, enhancing the comfort and appeal of both the residential and office spaces. The building is now set to offer high-quality living and working spaces while preserving its structural resilience, supporting the ongoing transformation of Preston’s city centre.