PERI - Leisure Development - Weybridge, Mercedes Benz Heritage and Technology Centre at Brooklands
Date: 02 Aug 2006
The Mercedes Benz Heritage and Technology Centre (HTC) at Brooklands in Weybridge is sited in a unique and exciting location, close to the Brooklands Museum and within the historic motor-racing circuit.
With a total footprint of 8,500 square metres, the project comprised three main areas: the East Wing, the Brand Gallery (link structure which will showcase latest products from the German carmaker) and the West Wing.
Construction on the part-museum and part-educational facility, was started by Waring Contractors in October 2004 and involved the creation of a truly spectacular RC frame by O'Keefe Construction (Greenwich) Limited consisting of sloping RC columns, curved and raking fine-finish walls and post-tensioned slabs.
Achieved through high-tech in situ casting, these elements - designed to copy the stylish slants and angles of its historic racing-machines - now combine to create a geometry that is as striking to behold as it was challenging to build.
Throughout the project, over 4,700 cubic metres of concrete were poured and over 11,000 square metres of formwork and 7,500 square metres of falsework were used over a period of 29 weeks.
It was decided to cast the sloping columns on site because of the high loads that they were intended to carry and the complexity of tying them into the slabs that they had to support. They were produced using standard VARIO column boxes with additional SRU walers supplied by PERI and had to remain propped until the slab overhead was cast and cured. In total £2.1millions worth of PERI stock was held on site.
James Bourke, Contracts Manager with O'Keefe commented:
"Peri being our chosen systems partner on previous occasions proved that they were the natural choice on this challenging project. The ability of the Peri design team to get into the detail and assist O'Keefe's project managers showed their skill. Coupled with design flexibility, functionality and ease of use of their systems, assisted in the construction of this spectacular structure"
The HTC scheme is all part of DaimlerChrysler UK's plan to create a unique visitor experience for people wanting to learn about the history that Mercedes Benz shares with Brooklands, Britain's first purpose-built race circuit.
It is intended to help safeguard the Brooklands site and enable enthusiasts to emulate their motor-racing heroes and drive on part of the Campbell circuit. It includes conservation initiatives, a country-park and flood-protection measures, along with a skid-pan and test track.
The concept and form of the Mercedes Benz Heritage and Technology Centre are bold and contemporary, evocative of the pioneering spirit and history of Brooklands, reviving the glamour and excitement of the circuit in its heyday in the early part of the twentieth century.
The project has been nominated for several awards and provides the means by which the countryside around the historic Brooklands site can be safeguarded and its motor-racing heritage can be conserved, promoted and celebrated.
The Heritage and Technology Centre under construction with PERI products
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