New headquarters for consumer giant

Working for main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland, Caunton Engineering is currently erecting 1,200t of structural steelwork for a new four-storey headquarters for Unilever.

Located in the Leatherhead Office Park, Surrey, the building will eventually house all three of Unilever’s divisions – Foods, Home and Personnel Care, and Ice Cream – under one roof following a corporate merger.

Steven Waterhouse, Caunton Divisional Director, said this is a challenging multi-storey project due for speedy completion of the steelwork by July 2007.

The company will also install more than 20,000m² of metal decking and 80,000 shear studs.

“Steelwork begins at basement level,” said Mr Waterhouse. “As below the four levels of office space there is under-croft car parking.”

Below ground level all columns are concrete-filled UC sections, changing to feature exposed CHS sections for all other levels.

“Another interesting element of the project are the two one-storey high podiums at each end of the building,” said Mr Waterhouse. “These will provide access to the car parks as well acting as entrances to the building.”