Queens Quay

G3 was appointed to provide civil, structural, geo-environmental and principal designer services for Queens Quay, a landmark site in Clydebank, situated adjacent to Dumbarton Road and overlooking the River Clyde and the Titan Crane. This is a mixed-use development comprising two new six story blocks with 146 new dwellings and four ground floor commercial units.

Due to its rectangular form and mass, the building required a strong visual identity and we worked closely with the wider design team to develop solutions that would allow the architects vision to be realised.

Both blocks are complex and utilise a steel transfer structure at ground floor to accommodate the commercial units with the upper residential properties being constructed in off-site manufactured timber frame. By adopting this approach, we were able to significantly reduce steel tonnages and embrace a highly energy efficient closed panel timer frame system.

The architectural detailing present numerous challenges which incorporate bespoke and intricate detailing in support of feature balconies, façade support and projecting bays, to name a few. In addition, the proposal for the ground floor commercial units also represented a structural challenge. Particular points that had to be considered included addressing the requirement for double height spaces at ground floor level and clear open spans (14m long beams). This also resulted in difficulties in introducing braced frames which were required to provide stability to the building. This problem was overcome with the introduction of secondary steel frames; positioned in conjunction with the architect, while still achieving the vision for the open plan commercial space. The ground floor slab also had to be designed to support a future mezzanine construction which was a client requirement.

Site access was originally via Cart Street, which also served as an access point to the adjacent Clydebank College campus. In an effort to alleviate congestion on Cart Street the contractor requested that a temporary access be formed via Titan Boulevard, located on the northern boundary. The steel transfer structure was redesigned to accommodate an enlarged opening for haulage vehicles and excavators to access site, allowing construction works to progress with the superstructure and façade at higher level and minimising disruption to the site neighbours.