Distribution
NSC 13
June 18
FACT FILE
Great Haddon cold
storage depot
Main client:
Yearsley Logistics
Architect: AEW
Architects
Main contractor:
Russells Construction
Structural engineer:
Healey Consulting
Steelwork contractor:
BD Structures
Steel tonnage: 500t
Roof bracing extends
around the entire
structure
“This, coupled with some minor tweaking
of the cell pitch, meant that in 120t of Westok
beams there was not one infill – resulting in a
very economical solution,” adds Mr Swann.
As well as being an efficient steel member
with which to form the required spans,
cellular beams were also chosen because they
will allow cold air from the building’s chillers
to pass through.
Standing 20m-high on an exposed site, the
structure will be subjected to potential high
wind loads as Healey Consulting Engineer
Mark Bradbury explains. “It’s a tall building
and so stability for the structure is provided
by 6.5m-deep lattice beam roof bracing that
extends around the entire perimeter of the
steel frame.”
Vertical diagonal bracing is located at each
of the four corners of the square building
elevations, where a tubular brace transfers
the large wind reactions from the roof lattice
frame to the structure’s foundations through
two bays.
Many cold stores are designed as a boxwithin
a-box, whereby the outer steel frame
surrounds another inner freezer box. On this
project, a more economical solution was used
as the steel frame and its cladding act as the
only ‘skin’ surrounding the freezer.
“A lot of design work was required to
ensure thermal isolation was achieved by the
frame and determine the most appropriate
sub-grades of steel members to cater for
the -25 degree conditions,” explains BD
Structures Director Chris Heys.
The cold store’s steelwork is all left exposed
within the completed project and so it was
galvanized to ensure it will not corrode
under the extreme conditions. Meanwhile,
to achieve thermal isolation, the cold store
column baseplates are seated onto thermal
break isolation pads, which are on top of the
concrete pad foundations.
As well as the main cold store structure,
the project also includes an office block
and loading bay that extends along slightly
beyond one elevation.
Measuring 75m-long × 18m wide the
majority of this linked, but structurallyindependent,
portalised steel frame
accommodates the loading bay. One end of
this structure also houses a two-storey office
block, which has been designed to accept a
further floor if needed in the future.
Yearsley Logistics Managing Director
Tim Moran says: “This ambitious project is
all part of our ongoing strategy to achieve
faster, leaner and more efficient supply chains
though the creation of a national network of
SuperHubs, and demonstrates our long-term
commitment to the UK frozen food sector
at a time when others are withdrawing from
national locations.
Steelwork’s speed of
construction was one
of the main reasons for
its use
“This is a scheme to meet our needs now
and long into the future, as we continue
to bring on new customers. Overall, the
SuperHub strategy allows us to improve
operational efficiency and optimise costs,
both of which are welcomed by our
customers. This project, designed to achieve
a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, also helps
us to achieve the ever higher environmental
standards that we set ourselves to reduce food
miles and minimise emissions.”
Andrew Russell, Director for Russells
Construction, says: “We have more than
a decade’s experience in the delivery of
temperature controlled facilities, with more
than 76,000m2 commissioned for Yearsley
Logistics and another 9,000m2 for other
clients.
“In that time, we’ve developed a fast and
efficient methodology which, combined
with a trusted supply chain and excellent
relationship with our clients, allows us to
provide contracted programme schedules,
enabling them to have their buildings
operational for customers much sooner than
expected.”
Standing on an exposed site
the building will be subjected
to high wind loads
Cellular beams form
the clear spans
How the completed
facility will look
/Design_codes_and_standards#Wind_actions
/Concept_design#Structural_options_for_stability
/Braced_frames#Horizontal_bracing
/Braced_frames#Vertical_bracing
/Building_envelopes
/Thermal_performance
/Metallic_coatings#Hot-dip_galvanizing
/Simple_connections#Column_bases
/Portal_frames
/Sustainability#Understanding_BREEAM
/Design_codes_and_standards#Wind_actions
/Concept_design#Structural_options_for_stability
/Braced_frames#Horizontal_bracing
/Braced_frames#Vertical_bracing
/Building_envelopes
/Thermal_performance
/Metallic_coatings#Hot-dip_galvanizing
/Simple_connections#Column_bases
/Portal_frames
/Sustainability#Understanding_BREEAM