The existing suspended floor slabs were of flat slab construction supported on an average 7.8m x 7.8m ‘flared’ heads column grid. The client wished to convert a section of the 4th level slab from car parking use to creation of space to install toilet facilities accessible to the public visiting adjacent retail units within Cabot Place.

CRE8 Structures work entailed the assessment of the existing slabs to support the increased load requirements and submission of strengthening proposals to achieve this. Various options including carbon fibre strengthening (CFS) were reviewed, however the CFS option was deemed uneconomical due to the relatively small footprint areas to be refurbished. A system of steel beam framing, transferring loads directly into the existing RC columns was adopted as the ultimate solution.