Belfast: Signature Project Basement

This project represented the full extent of the piling works required for the launch of the prestigious Signature Project in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.

The 100 by 100 metre basement was constructed by the installation of 483 linear metres of 600mm diameter hard/hard secant wall. A capping beam was then cast and 23m long ground anchors carrying 44t were installed at 45 degree angle to tie back the wall at capping beam level. Along the Grade 1 listed Titanic Drawing Office raking tubular props were installed to avoid clashes with the foundations. The basement was excavated to a depth of 7m by the client to allow DAWSON-WAM to install some 1,000 bearing piles each carrying 1500kN.

The ground conditions were typically 1m of made ground followed by 5m of Belfast sleech. This overlaid 6m of sands and finally stiff boulder clays into which all piles were formed. Piles were installed beside, and in some instances, through an array of existing concrete and timber piles. The works were also carried out within 50m of Belfast Lough making the formation of the piles in this poor ground even more onerous.