We completed a desk study and ground investigation with respect to the demolition of two existing buildings and the subsequent construction of a new five-storey and six-storey building to provide a new UK Territorial Headquarters of the Salvation Army at the William Booth Memorial Training College campus in Denmark Hill. The site of the proposed development slopes down significantly from south to north such that the rear of the new building is sunk approximately 5 m below ground level.

The investigation comprised cable percussion boreholes to depths of between 30 m and 45 m to determine the deep ground conditions beneath the site and to provide parameters for piled foundation design. These boreholes were supplemented with a series of five opendrive sampler boreholes advanced to depths of around 5 m to provide further coverage of the site and four trial pits to determine the nature of the footings of the existing buildings.

GEA provided advice on piled foundations including founding criteria for the various strata underlying the site and selection of suitable pile installation techniques. We also provided advice with respect to the design of retaining walls, methods of construction and groundwater control with respect to the proposed partial basement.

Main contractor McLaren delivered this elegant, high quality sustainable building in November 2023, which will accommodate up to 450 of the Salvation Army’s employees and officers allowing the consolidation of its administrative offices and training provisions across one location.