Commercial - Waterman

Edenica highly commended at Civic Trust Awards

lrichards — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:46:54 +0000

Edenica at 100 Fetter Lane was highly commended at the Civic Trust Awards. Praising the scheme, the judges commented: “100 Fetter Lane stands as a persuasive example of how commercial architecture can deliver broader civic value.”

Established in 1959, the Civic Trust Awards recognise outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment. This year, they celebrated their 67th anniversary with an awards ceremony Altrincham’s Concorde Conference Centre.

Designed by Fletcher Priest Architects, BauMont Real Estate Capital’s and YardNine’s 94,000 sq ft Edenica office development harnesses the latest design techniques to offer exceptional building user experience, whilst optimising operational energy efficiency and slashing embodied carbon.

Working in close collaboration with the project team including main contractor Mace, project managers Third London Wall, and cost consultants Arcadis, Waterman’s team provided multidisciplinary consultancy services for Edenica. This saw our specialists deliver sustainability, building services, structural engineering, and environmental input, and the scheme was also a pilot project for the first-ever standardised approach to Materials Passports, developed by Circuland and Waterman’s sustainability team.

To learn more about how we’re unlocking the potential of commercial projects across the UK, click here to head to our commercial sector webpage.

The post Edenica highly commended at Civic Trust Awards first appeared on Waterman.

Grimsby docks to become new home for UK renewables as regeneration begins

lrichards — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:34:45 +0000

The major restoration and redevelopment of the historic Great Grimsby Ice Factory site will see it become a new hub for the UK’s offshore wind, green maritime and renewable energy industry, with the scheme’s initial elements recently securing planning approval from North East Lincolnshire Council.

Built in 1900, the ‘at risk’ Grade-II listed buildings in Grimsby Docks originally supplied crushed ice for the town’s thriving fishing fleet. At its peak in the 1950s, up to 1,200 tonnes of ice a day left the facility, before the industry went into decline and the factory shut its gates. Now, developer Tom Shutes is set to breathe new life into this maritime gem through ambitious redevelopment plans.

Centred around a major renovation of the derelict Ice Factory, the Waugh Thistleton Architects-designed scheme will incorporate a 1,000-seat events venue, 56,000 sq ft of office space and a research and development area for offshore renewables. Elsewhere, a newly built 161-bed Kasbah Hilton Hotel will also be incorporated within the site.

Following years of underinvestment, this significant redevelopment will help drive widespread regeneration across the Grimsby Docks area, with the scheme aiming to create 600 new jobs. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Norman Lamont, praised the plans in a recent statement, saying: “I feel this would be a very valuable addition to an area right for redevelopment and regeneration.”

Working closely with the project team, Waterman’s structural and civil engineering experts supported the scheme throughout the planning process, helping unlock the site’s potential through a series of sensitive design interventions. To maximise available floor space, the south building will be extended to incorporate a new entrance, whilst two new first-floor bridges will enable access between the two buildings.

Focussing on the sympathetic restoration of original features, our team developed the scheme’s conservation strategy, liaising with Historic England to ensure their concerns and requirements were addressed. This led to the retention of the historic facades and ice compressor room, whilst the boiler house will be repurposed to provide food and drinks facilities.

With planning permission now in place for the initial elements, our experts have also supported Shutes’ wider vision for the remainder of the site. This has seen us provide advice on a range of speculative options including a new floating solar array, the repurposing of Henderson Jetty and the potential addition of light industrial and commercial units along Fish Docks.

“

Our team has relished the opportunity to breathe new life into the Great Grimsby Ice Factory, using targeted engineering to realise its potential. This remarkable site was once a cornerstone of the town’s world-famous fishing and ice-making industry and is now set to become a centre for the UK renewable energy sector, so it’s a privilege to have supported Tom Shutes’ vision for delivering a thriving future for such an important site.

Huseyin Hussein
Waterman’s Director for Structures

The post Grimsby docks to become new home for UK renewables as regeneration begins first appeared on Waterman.

101 Moorgate commended at the Structural Steel Design Awards

lrichards — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:45:22 +0000

The ten-storey steel-framed commercial and retail development built directly above Moorgate Station in the heart of London’s financial district was commended at the Structural Steel Design Awards.

The scheme delivers 75,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and 2,400 sq ft of retail units seamlessly integrated with Transport for London’s infrastructure. The steel frame spans diagonally above live rail lines from both the Elizabeth and Northern Lines, requiring innovative engineering to avoid impacting existing structures. New columns were installed to provide vertical support while minimising load transfer to existing foundations.

“

A very well executed project providing the history of a Victorian viaduct alignment above Moorgate station with the construction of a new 10-storey steel-framed structure. The use of fabricated trusses and composite beams to support the building without transferring loads onto the existing structure was highly challenging. The double height trusses were a true celebration of steel.

The judges praised the project as:

The scheme utilised off-site construction methods, including precast concrete panels with integrated glazing to help reduce waste and energy use. Sustainability was central to the project’s vision, reflected in over 20,000 sq ft of green roof terraces, integrated photovoltaic panels, and a BREEAM Excellent certification. The scheme is also targeting WELL Platinum and a 5-star NABERS rating.

Acoustic isolation was achieved using bespoke bearing pads embedded into each column base, addressing vibrations from nearby rail lines. Despite its location in one of London’s busiest areas, careful logistics planning ensured minimal disruption throughout construction.

“

101 Moorgate was a really exciting project for us, not least from a structural perspective. We delivered comprehensive construction information to the fabricator within just four weeks of instruction. This proactive approach not only streamlined the process but also strengthened our collaboration through to practical completion. The project team maintained an open-minded attitude toward the valid requirements of all parties, ensuring smooth day-to-day coordination across all disciplines. Thanks to this close collaboration, we were able to deliver exceptional results efficiently and effectively. We’re proud that this commendation recognises the dedication and teamwork that made the project such a success.

Andrew Sherlock
Waterman’s Director for Structures in London

Our experts worked closely with the project team including Orms, BHC Limited, Mace Group, and Aviva Investors to deliver this fantastic project.

The post 101 Moorgate commended at the Structural Steel Design Awards first appeared on Waterman.

Back to the future: Echoes of the past at Canada Water’s stunning new Dock Shed

lrichards — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:08:29 +0000

Located in a prime position opposite the zone two tube station and overlooking the peaceful waters of Canada Dock, the unique, sustainability-focused Dock Shed is making waves as a remarkable office space.

Deeply rooted in the rich history of the Surrey Docks, Dock Shed is part of what was once the heart of London’s timber trade, receiving shipments from Canada and the Baltics. The area was heavily bombed during World War II, leading to significant changes in its landscape, and the entire area was officially closed to commercial shipping in the 1970s, before being redeveloped in the 1980s with low-rise residential and retail.

Creating a new icon

Today, the area is being given a new lease of life by British Land and AustralianSuper through their 53-acre Canda Water development, aimed at transforming the area into a vibrant new town centre. As part of this, the new Dock Shed offers 180,000 sq ft of BREEAM Outstanding workspace across six floors, along with a 5,000 sq ft retail unit and 60,000 sq ft leisure centre at basement level. With flexible floorplates ranging from 32,000 to 43,000 sq ft, the facility is designed to meet the needs of occupiers looking for headquarters.

Designed by Allies and Morrison, Dock Shed’s dramatic warehouse-inspired architecture reflects the area’s industrial heritage with its characteristic vaulted roofs mirroring the timber ‘deal’ sheds that once lined Canada Dock. Our structural engineers worked closely with the architects and design team to sympathetically blend historical elements with modern functionality.

“

Dock Shed is a great example of a forward-thinking approach to sustainable design that also celebrates the site’s industrial legacy. Our design solution reflects a project-wide strategy that balances architectural expression, structural performance, and environmental responsibility.

Charlie Scott, Waterman’s Director of Structures

Exemplary user experience

With a key focus on wellbeing, this WELL Gold-certified building features extensive dockside terraces on every level which are designed to host outdoor meetings and social events, whilst providing informal breakout areas and relaxation zones. Active travel is championed through the inclusion of 270 indoor cycle spaces, and extensive changing spaces with shower facilities. To further enhance user experience, fresh air circulation is available via openable windows which have been positioned throughout the building, while up to four metre floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows flood the floors with natural light.

In addition, a world class leisure centre featuring two swimming pools, multi-court sports halls, yoga and spin studios and a state-of-the-art gym sits at the basement level. Our design for this space was centred around 24m-long trusses which span over the pool and sports hall, creating large column-free spaces to accommodate an impressive range of facilities.

Outlining how this was integrated within a complex sloping site, Charlie Scott commented: “The main pool hall is an example of clever integrated design where the swimming pool was orientated to align the deepening pool with the natural slope of the site to improve the efficiency of the cantilevered piled wall. It’s this kind of hidden design efficiency that I love helping to unlock, but I am most proud of the elegance of the steelwork. It’s simple, legible, unfussy and I believe it meets the brief we were tasked to achieve: to deliver a highly sustainable office building with a clean warehouse aesthetic. A great team effort!”

Unlocking design potential

Our structural specialists developed a low-carbon structure using 700 tonnes of X-Carb steel, which alone resulted in an estimated saving of 1,500 tonnes of embodied carbon. With the building designed around a highly repetitive and efficient structural grid, the repeating structural forms meant material waste was reduced and opportunities for future reuse were maximised. The geometric precision and exposed steelwork enhance the design to reflect the character of the historic dock sheds, whilst the exposed saw-tooth roof and the elegant steel trusses play a central role in both the building’s performance and its visual identity.

With the striking ground floor reception and café area sitting above the leisure centre’s sports hall, our specialists worked with the architects and fabricators to deliver a series of trusses to span the 24m clear span needed to meet Sports England design standards. These trusses were carefully dimensioned to achieve the symmetry of 45-degree angles whilst also being suitable for delivery to site as a single splice-free member. The resulting exposed steelwork design contributes to the clean, industrial aesthetic of the incredible entrance sequence designed by Conran and Partners.

Above the swimming pool, deeper trusses were detailed to be storey-high so that the top chord of the truss supports the first-floor office and the end of the bottom chord supports the gym space at ground floor level. The simplicity of the exposed structural form was achieved through rigorous attention to detail, seeing the depths of the inclined sawtooth roof beams varied to align perfectly with the primary beams supporting them.

The exposed columns on the dock elevation were detailed as an asymmetric ‘H’ to provide space for the hidden rainwater pipes, while the developed junction of the trusses ensured they enhance the clean lines of the 45-degree angles. In the office spaces, beams were detailed with a visual hierarchy, using slightly shallower secondary beams supported by deeper primary beams. This arrangement created visible lines of support that run down the full length of the office floors.

With its beautiful design, impressive array of amenities and panoramic City views, Dock Shed is set to become a new destination for businesses and visitors alike. To find out more about the scheme, click here to head to the Dock Shed webpage.

Want to learn how we’re unlocking the potential of workspaces across the UK? Click here to head to our Commercial sector webpage.

The post Back to the future: Echoes of the past at Canada Water’s stunning new Dock Shed first appeared on Waterman.