Trusses create covered town hall courtyard

Phase one of the redevelopment of Wiltshire County Hall in Trowbridge was officially opened in early November.

The work included creating a new internal courtyard by roofing over a previously underused outdoor area between the two County Hall office blocks.

A series of nine 30m long tubular trusses support a lightweight ETFE roof, creating a new main entrance and reception area, a café and a new indoor link between the site’s buildings.

Tubecon, a division of Billington Structures, supplied and erected the trusses. They arrived on site in three pieces and were lifted into place by a mobile tower crane.

Surrounding the new covered courtyard, steel construction has also been utilised to renovate a 1970s built block and create a new library and modern open plan offices.

Phase two of the project has now started and this part of the job involves the refurbishment of the main County Hall structure.

Main contractor for the project is Kier Western, and architect Stride Treglown has carried out the design.