Alexandra House Dorchester
SWH provided civil and structural engineering services for a four-storey apartment building to support the affordable housing allocation in Dorchester.
Alexandra House (formerly known as Hancock House), is a residential development of 57 one bedroom and 6 two bedroom apartments, It was part of one of the final stages the Brewery Square Regeneration site in Dorchester, which had comprised of a cinema, shops, a restaurant and a hotel.
This new apartment block is also situated adjacent to a mainline railway.
The 4-storey housing development involved loadbearing masonry construction, with suspended concrete floors.
The masonry superstructure was procured in Summer 2021 which proved a challenging period due to cement/concrete shortages and supply issues, caused by the pandemic and Brexit. The original masonry design was altered, as it became apparent the supply chain was depleted. This involved close liaison with the contractors' procurement department to achieve a buildable solution and remain within the desired timeline of the programme.
In addition, the design also included a retaining wall to the southern boundary with land owned by Network Rail, to accommodate the Weymouth to London Waterloo mainline. This added a certain element of complexity, as the final design need to incorporate a build methodology that was agreed following liaison with Network Rail.
However, the end result is comfortable array of a new home, which has been seen as an important addition to local Affordable Housing for the community, including local NHS and key workers.
Images credit: Acheson Construction & Jonathan Gooding Photography
