FORMWORK supplier Doka provided the slipform systems and technical support to facilitate the ‘rapid, high-quality’ creation of concrete cores for a premium city centre residential development in Manchester.
The One Victoria project involved the bespoke assembly and delivery of the forming system featuring boxes and shutters to enable the completion of two concrete cores. These would be central to two high-rise residential blocks, comprising 129 self-contained apartments.
As well as delivering high-quality accommodation, according to the project’s development company, Torsion Construction, One Victoria will contribute positively towards the thriving economy in Manchester.
Doka was chosen by Spencer Civil Engineering to work alongside the company during the concrete core construction phase. This related to two apartment blocks of 10 and 14 storeys. For each building, Doka provided a tailored slipform system that was assembled off-site and delivered ready for operation.
The slipform’s pre-fabricated nature – each system taking six days to assemble – was described as ‘essential’ to the rapid completion of the concreting. For the 30-metre, ten-storey building, the slipform process included the entire core, one staircase and two lift shafts.
In accordance with the site’s requirements, the slip formwork comprised two, rather than three platforms – a hanging deck and main deck. This, Doka explained, highlighted the company’s ability to produce solutions to suit individual needs, which in this case required minimising site materials, speeding assembly whilst providing an ‘economical’ solution for the project.
The hanging deck enabled the finishing processes to be undertaken ‘safely and effectively’ for the core’s 250mm walls – the same wall-width as the 14-floor building – with the slipform process enabling a daily climb of between 3.1 and 3.4 metres over a nine-to-ten hour day.
Throughout the concreting period of the cores, Doka revealed its teams were available to assist with technical aspects, including the slipform equipment’s cleaning process, which required specialist jet washing to ensure readiness for immediate operation at the start of each day.
Doka added that ‘excellent’ cooperation between the firm and Spencer Civil Engineering was a key element of the timely completion, as was detailed planning and the introduction of new technologies such as a laser guidance system, which enables the rig operator to see live data on each target sensor and react accordingly.
Ben Williams, MD at Spencer Civil Engineering, said, “I was very impressed with the Doka bespoke slipform system; preconstruction to actual on-site delivery was second to none. The project could not have gone any smoother. The slipform system performed exactly how Doka sold it to us, with a high-quality finish – in comparison to other slipform systems – and excellent speed of construction.
“We look forward to working with Doka Slipform on many more projects in the future.”
The city centre location severely limited on-site space, requiring Doka to organise equipment deliveries several days in advance to avoid interrupting ongoing piling and groundworks. Equipment was supplied just-in-time, limiting the quantity of unused materials.
Once in-situ, the formwork facilitated a six-day per week concreting process, with the equipment’s dismantling taking five days. The construction of the buildings’ cores is now complete. However, work remains ongoing at One Victoria which once finished, will cover a footprint in excess of 5,000m2.
