Walsh Group

These buildings making up the new headquarters and broadcasting centre for the BBC at White City. Walsh Associates put forward a winning alternative proposal at tender with Bovis/Byrne Brothers for the 2 buildings, each seven storeys high and 100m by 60m.

Walsh Associates presented a concrete sway frame alternative for consideration, to replace heavy, long span, shallow steel floor beams and precast concrete slabs.

Walsh Associates demonstrated that a concrete solution was both viable and more cost effective than the use of steel frame.

If Walsh Associates had not used our advanced Finite Element analytical techniques, the use of concrete slab of similar thickness to that of steel, would not have been possible.

The concrete frame also allowed the elimination of shear walls or bracing. Walsh Associates proposed the use of a rigid frame for stability similar to that used in earthquake zones. This aided the construction programme, as the cores tend to be critical in fast-trak construction.

The introduction of a concrete sway frame with flat slabs has resulted in cost savings and programme savings, with increased client flexibility by eliminated shear walls and bracing.

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