CRA Concrete Society Awards Shortlist 2020 Annouced
The Concrete Repair Association has shortlisted three projects for the CRA Repair & Refurbishment Award, with the winner due to be announced on the Concrete Repair website on Monday 16 November at 16:00.
The Concrete Repair Association Repair & Refurbishment Award is presented in recognition of exceptional work to the repair or refurbishment of an existing structure. The judging panel considered each entry in terms of complexity, quality of service, innovation and environmental considerations of the project.
Three projects have been shortlisted from entries received from members of Concrete Repair Association. They include:
- Currall Lewis & Martin Construction (CLM) for the A38(M) DC 10-16 Concrete Repairs + ICCP project
- Fosroc International Limited & Beton Bauen for their work on the Newbridge on Wye, Powys
- PJ Mear Ltd for the Balfron Tower project.
The judging panel declared:
“All of the entries to this year’s Award highlighted how complex project needs can be met through innovative solutions. The three shortlisted projects all showed extensive and convoluted repairs required for unique projects.”
Currall Lewis & Martin Construction was shortlisted for the A38(M) DC 10-16 Concrete Repairs + ICCP project. This Concrete Repair and Cathodic Protection project is part of an ongoing repair strategy for the Midlands Links Motorway Viaducts.
The project involved the repair and protection of elevated bridge deck soffits, support columns and panel walls. The structures condition had deteriorated to an extent which meant intervention became essential. By intricately planning phased CRs and the installation of CP to the deck soffit, CLM achieved keeping all 8 lanes of the A38 route into Birmingham operational without Customer disruption. On average, this road is travelled on 71,832 times daily.
The project demonstrates an ability to deliver a complex proposal dealing with multiple complications to provide a solution that exceeded client expectations.
Fosroc International Limited & Beton Bauen have been shortlisted for their joint work on the Newbridge on Wye, Powys. This project was to reconstruct a concrete gauging weir in the river Wye at Newbridge.
The environment of the river and the risk of rising water levels presented several challenges for the project; such as working in a live river and having pumps and cofferdams in place that would be at risk of being swept away with the unpredictable river flow. Also with the unpredictable weather there was an increased risk of a sudden level rise in the river therefore being able to minimise the time taken to carry out the works was paramount.
The project shows a unique ability to address the complexity of the environment and provide a solution to reinstate the structure in a short timescale, thereby reducing the risk of being exposed to flood water.
The final shortlisted project was PJ Mear Ltd’s work on the Balfron Tower. The iconic ‘Brutalist’ Grade II Balfron Tower forms a landmark of modern living and design in London’s East End.
The structure presented a complex structural problem with additional aesthetic considerations for the restoration works. As a 26-storey post-war Grade II listed tower block, every design detail had to be carefully considered to ensure sympathetic refurbishment to this iconic London building was maintained. Works included on all storeys included internal and external cleaning, repair and corrosion prevention, waterproof rendering, and intumescent fire spray coatings.
This project demonstrates extensive repairs to all aspects of the structure without impacting its distinctive aesthetics. The works also satisfied the restriction applied by English Heritage.
