University research hub gets steel staircase

Work is progressing at Cardiff University where a Translational Research Hub (TRH) is being constructed by Bouygues.

Designed by HOK’s London Studio, the TRH will foster partnerships with national and international enterprises to promote academic-to-business and business-to-business relationships and fuel economic growth in Wales and beyond.

High-tech lab space will support research alongside facilities designed for industrial collaboration, helping to overcome traditional barriers between academia and commercial application.

An integral part of the scheme is a steel cantilevered staircase, fabricated, supplied and erected by Taunton Fabrications that serves the full-height of the new building.

Requiring 60t of steelwork, the staircase flights and quarter turn landings were all fabricated, painted and then delivered to site as individual pieces.

In total, 20 sections of staircase were delivered to site and lifted into place by tower crane, prior to the building’s roof being installed. Due to the staircase being cantilevered, each section was temporarily propped until all the sections were in place and stability was guaranteed.

The entire TRH project is due to be completed in 2022.