West Bowling Green Street, Edinburgh

This project is the construction of 24 new supported housing apartments which were specially adapted to provide long term homes for people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and other complex core requirements, moving people out of institutional care settings.
This four-storey building was constructed using traditional construction methods of block walls, facing brick and precast concrete slabs with a flat roof.
The site works involved the relocation of an existing sub-station, the removal of foundations from the previously demolished building and the alteration and extension of existing public footpaths to the Water of Leith to the rear of the site. These operations required to be phased to maintain services and retain a public right of way.
Reinforced concrete foundations were tied into pile caps supported on CHD Piles. The ground floor slab was a suspended concrete slab on insulation and a gas membrane enclosed within substructure masonry walls.
The superstructure consisted of facing brick and block cavity walls, precast concrete floors. All circulation spaces and flat party walls were concrete block to ensure a robust structure and achieve protection and greater evacuation times in the event of a fire.
The internal finishes to the flats were robust and included underfloor heating, recessed light fittings and other safety features to ensure the safety of those living in the apartments. The building also provided accommodation and office facilities for care staff.
Externally we formed an access road, car parking provision, footpaths, and a landscaped area to the rear.