QUB’s David Keir Building, which straddles the Stranmillis and Malone Roads in Belfast, houses various departments including the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering and the Psychology department.
Almost the entire building has been refurbished over the past decade in various phases. Doran Consulting has been commissioned to provide civil and structural engineering design advice during the course of these works which have included structural alterations to the existing building layout, strengthening works to existing floors and roofs, construction of two new roof-top extensions, the creation of new lecturing spaces, offices, resource areas, laboratories, new mechanical and electrical services throughout various sections of the buildings which included the provision of new structural steel M+E roof-top platforms with the associated plant.
Refurbishment of the existing lecture theatres involved the removal of the existing reinforced concrete tiered seating. Various areas within the building were also in-filled to provide rear floor space. All these works were carried out in a Conservation Area and were subject to stringent planning requirements. Works were generally spilt into separately tendered contracts which were then sequenced over winter and summer semesters in order to prevent disruption to teaching.
We were involved in all the phases from the concept stage through to completion and throughout all of the works, the facilities remained operational.