IG Masonry Support Ltd

Built by Wates Group for developer MARK and designed by London-based architect SPPARC, Borough Yards’ features a number of transformed and re-purposed railway arches, viaducts and warehouses along with five new buildings, that weave their way from Borough Market to Clink Street. This new shopping and dining district also includes a cinema, art gallery and two new office buildings.IG Masonry Support worked with brickwork contractor Lesterose, designing and supplying a number of complex prefabricated brickwork elements including Welded Masonry Support (WMS), Brick Slip Masonry Support and its renowned B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System).ChallengeIn this landmark conservation area, the brickwork for the new buildings needed to compliment the existing brickwork on the repurposed viaducts and warehouses but also present their own unique character.To meet these challenging design requirements, IG Masonry Support manufactured and supplied a range of prefabricated components that met both the wider considerations around planning in this conservation area and at the same time all fire and building regulations.As part of the complex design for building 4, the architect and design team required a bespoke ‘floating’ brick feature presenting a jagged design. The utilisation of IG Masonry Support’s brick slips helped achieve the distinctive angled soffit design, offering a flawless and historic aesthetic in a modern, easy-to-install solution.The distinctive spearheads featuring on building 2 were a separate hurdle but thanks to IG Masonry Support’s close collaboration with the contractors and the architect, it enabled an accurate and sufficient design. Installed over 4 level points of the building, these innovative spearheads, never seen before, were manufactured with glass reinforced concrete, and hand-laid brickwork in-between.Customisable to the architect’s design wishes, the Brick Slip Systems and Masonry Support are prefabricated units manufactured offsite and delivered complete with bricks mechanically-fixed and bonded to them.Due to the type of being brick being used on buildings 2, 3 and 4 being a weaker composition, this necessitated pre-pointing the brick slips in dry, controlled conditions in order to create a high quality, finished surface.SolutionThe bespoke elements for building 4 pushed the boundaries of IG Masonry Support and its products but through technical collaboration the jagged design features were achieved with angled soffits, ensuring a solution that met the architect’s specific requirements.IG Masonry Support exceeded expectations with its Welded Masonry Support system and versatile B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System), creating a seamless match with the surrounding brickwork.Able to accommodate loads of up to and exceeding 14kN/m, IG’s Welded Masonry Support (WMS) is a rigid masonry support system comprising a stainless-steel angle support shelf with fixed brackets. It is fabricated to engineers’ specifications on a project basis and offers two planes of adjustability onsite. Offering ease-of-installation, the system can be supplied in a variety of configurations depending on the project’s requirements. At Borough Yards, the WMS was designed, manufactured and supplied by the IG Masonry Support team and installed across building 2 and 4 in order to support the application of the B.O.S.S. system.The B.O.S.S.+ is a lightweight prefabricated system that is faster to install than traditional hanging brick systems. Installed to a pre-fitted Masonry Support System, B.O.S.S.+ allows increased adjustability along three axes. Produced offsite, B.O.S.S. offers 90% time saving onsite and negates the need for mechanical lifting. B.O.S.S.+ also removes the need for brick-cutting onsite, resulting in a quality system that is checked before it arrives onsite. This BBA-certified unit is an ‘A’ Fire Rated, BBA certified and mechanically-fixed unit, suitable for use on residential buildings over 18m above ground level and complies with the Building Regulations 2010* Approved Document B: Fire Safety.Not only is the system versatile, it offers ease-of-installation and enables time-savings onsite. The bespoke solution offers a 70% weight-saving against an equivalent concrete product, negating the need for mechanical handling and onsite labour. These were significant benefits on this mixed-used development in particular.An integral part of the street scene and conservation area, these stunning new buildings sit side-by-side with the historic viaducts and warehouses. The presence of IG Masonry Support’s systems and the company’s technical prowess has ensured this landmark Southwark development is thoughtfully planned, well-built and a sought-after attraction in South London.

IG Masonry Support was able to supply a range of its products within a tight revised timeframe on a new-build student accommodation development at National University of Ireland (NUI) constituent university in Galway.Founded in 1845, NUI Galway is ranked among the top 1% of universities and has been inspiring students for 175 years. NUI Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching, and has colleges spanning arts and social sciences, medicine, policy and engineering.Designed by Coady Partnership Architects, IG Masonry Support worked with the contractor JJ Rhatigan on Phase 1 of the construction of Goldcrest Village, a major state-of-the-art student accommodation as part of NUI Galway.The 429-bed student residence was constructed to the north of the NUI Galway city centre campus, adjacent to the Lifecourse Science Building and the Science Research Building. Near the existing Corrib Village student accommodation, Goldcrest Village offers a total area of 12,500m2, with apartments of five or six bedrooms with en-suites, shared kitchen, dining and living rooms. Four buildings up to five storeys high enclose two courtyards, with the tallest near a pedestrian and cycle route that links the development to the main campus. Communal facilities and a reception are centrally located for the students to access.For this modern and vibrant build, IG Masonry Support’s products were specified due to an established existing relationship with JJ Rhatigan, a contractor which is well-versed on IG Masonry Support’s systems.ChallengeThe project’s main challenge was achieving the specified brick soffit in a short amount of time to a high-standard of quality and finish.Due to a large change to Building A’s facade, IG Masonry Support’s teams had to adapt quickly whilst the project was live. The project deadline did not change however, which meant manufacturing times were tight. A six-week job had to be turned around in five days without compromise to delivery or quality.Furthermore, the installation of IG Masonry Support systems was to take place whilst students were on campus. This meant that high standards of health and safety precautions had to be upheld and followed at all times.SolutionIG Masonry Support manufactured its B.O.S.S. (Brick on Soffit System) and Brick Slip Lintels to be installed on the buildings within the new Goldcrest Village development.The B.O.S.S. range is a lightweight prefabricated system that is faster to install than traditional hanging brick systems. Installed to a pre-fitted masonry support system, B.O.S.S. allows increased adjustability along three axes. Produced offsite, B.O.S.S. offers 90% time saving onsite and negates the need for mechanical lifting. B.O.S.S. also removes the need for brick-cutting onsite, resulting in a quality system that is checked before it arrives onsite.IG Masonry Support Brick Slip Lintels can be used over small openings to eliminate the need for additional masonry support. They are delivered to site as a one-piece unit, complete with brick slips attached, eliminating the need for specialist installation onsite.A simpler and easier install when delivered to site was a huge benefit on this project. Not only did the swift installation enable time and cost savings in terms of labour, it ensured a better-quality finish and met the desired specification. This translated into achieving the required brick patterns and soffit sizes which blended seamlessly with the surrounding brickwork.Going above and beyond even on a project with a tight timeframe, IG Masonry Support delivered Masonry Support from Level 2 of Building A. When this was installed, the contractors could determine the finished bond pattern of Level 1 B.O.S.S. units to inform the patterning of the levels beyond, ensuring the same quality finish was met.Throughout the project, IG Masonry Support’s technical division worked with the teams to ensure all products hit the mark on safety and quality.A striking student accommodation complex within NUI Galway, the presence of IG Masonry Support systems will help ensure students live in areas that are of the highest quality throughout the academic years.

A redevelopment of the old Foyle’s Bookshop on Charing Cross Road, Ilona Rose House comprises 80,000 sq ft of office space, along with retail, restaurants, an art gallery, nightclub and eight apartments. Spread over 13 stories including four below ground and 14,000 sq ft of south-west facing terraces on the upper floors, MATT Architecture’s design for the highly decorative and cantilevered façade includes rose motifs across each floor of the building.For a commercial building that stands out from the crowd in the heart of Soho, IG Masonry Support was able to meet the architect’s brief through the provision of a range of brick slip products to achieve the desired aesthetic finish and Link Building which links Greek Street to the development. IG Masonry Support designed bespoke brick slip systems for each application, providing practical solutions that enabled brickwork contractor Lesterose Builders Ltd to save on installation time significantly.ChallengeTo achieve the architect’s vision and the needs of brickwork contractor Lesterose, the expertise of the IG Masonry Support and its products came into play to fulfil the requirements of this bespoke project.Central Pier on Ilona Rose HouseThe main façade of the commercial building was designed using several shape requirements. The biggest challenge for this area of the project was the arches which required to come from the central pier to the corners of the building and create an optical illusion of closure into the ground.Another challenge on the main building, Ilona Rose House, was the change in brick type. A solution had to be devised to hide the elevation’s movement joint and facilitate the brick change.12-13 Greek Street, Mews ElevationAlthough similar in design to the main Ilona Rose House building, the 12-13 Greek Street Mews Elevation features balconies in its design. This presented a challenge for IG Masonry Support as the structure featured balcony connectors which had the potential to clash with the Welded Masonry Support and Brick on Soffit Systems required for this building.The VaultArguably one of the most attractive areas of the build is the Vault, which creates a passageway from Greek Street to the Mews Area of the development. The architect’s design required a continuous hanging brick effect utilising IG Masonry Support’s Brick Slip Panels. The challenge for our design was the sheer size of the soffit area and the curved design. We worked closely with Lesterose to manage the size of the panels, trading weight for ease of installation.SolutionThe team at IG Masonry Support collaborated with the whole project design team to ensure our products met the architectural and structural requirements of the project whilst ensuring maximum buildability for the brickwork contractor.Central Pier on Ilona Rose HouseAs a result of the design team discussions, the B.O.S.S. system pushed the boundaries on this project due to the shape requirements. A quarter circle on the corners of the building and a three-level step down feature was required in the brickwork – a challenging yet bold aesthetic IG Masonry Support was able to bring to life with its Welded Masonry Support (WMS) and B.O.S.S units. The two systems also provided the aesthetic finish required including the three different brick types to give further interest to the façade by the use of colour.12-13 Greek Street, Mews ElevationClose collaboration was required with the whole design team to review the structural drawings of the 12-13 Greek Street Mews Elevation and ensure that our products were designed suitably to fit the requirements of the building. This was solely due to the location of the balcony connectors, a critical structural component, and the shadow gap, an engineered break that was implemented in the building design to accommodate the change in brick type. Our Welded Masonry Support systems were designed to step in and drop down at points to avoid any clashes with the surrounding building components. This allowed our B.O.S.S. to be bolted to each WMS system appropriately, blend seamlessly, and ensure ease of installation for the contractor.The VaultTo enable the floating brickwork feature designed by MATT Architecture, IG designed Brick Slip Panels to suit a stretcher course bond pattern, covering a 40.3m2 area. 57 interlocking Panels, made up of nine designs varying in size and curvature, were designed and manufactured. During the manufacturing process, bricks were collected from site and delivered to our Brick Cutting Facility to be adhesively bonded to each Panel. This ensured each would blend seamlessly with the surrounding brickwork when installed.IG Masonry Support also collaborated with Lesterose on the size and weight of the Brick Slip Panels to ensure an efficient installation process. Each Panel was bolted back to a specially designed rail system manufactured by IG Masonry Support. The rail system was bolted back to the building and a keyhole slot was incorporated to allow the Panel to be lifted and slid on to ensure the weight could be taken as quickly as possible. Once in place, final pointing was required, allowing a seamless blend with the surrounding brickwork.The utilisation of IG Masonry Support’s prefabricated components ensured that all installation was undertaken efficiently, resulting in onsite cost savings and increased productivity.For what is a landmark development in Central London, IG’s solutions have covered all bases, helping to achieve the architect’s vision and ensuring this stunning new building stands the test of time.

The development, designed by architect Allies & Morrison, features six mixed-use blocks, including the UK’s tallest residential brick tower. The articulation of the brickwork and terracotta penthouses creates a unique character while referencing the site’s context and industrial heritage.Phase one, featuring two mansion blocks facing onto South Lambeth Road and affordable duplex maisonettes along Wyvill Road, required our Welded Masonry Support, B.O.S.S. A1 (Brick on Soffit System), and Brick Slip Lintels. Our B.O.S.S. A1, which bolts directly to our Welded Masonry Support, helped deliver speed of construction for the large development and, ultimately, the architect’s vision of stepped window heads, adding visual depth to the façade.Phase two consisted of three additional blocks, for which we designed and manufactured our Welded Masonry Support, B.O.S.S., and striking Brick Slip Arches.The corbelled crown details on Block F feature at its highest level and were achieved using our B.O.S.S. A1 fire-rated system.Block E, home to Wyvil Primary School, features a series of our Brick Slip Arches, which play a significant role in the final façade while complementing the original Victorian building.We were chosen as the supply partner for each block in phases one and two due to our reputation and ability to supply high-quality masonry support and brick slip products to large-scale, complex developments.

On the site of a former carpark next to a flyover, Kindred House has become a distinctive silhouette in the skyline of central Croydon.The build utilises over half a million bricks, consisting of Zircon, a white glazed brick and a brown brick, each chosen for their tone and colour variety, which helps create a sense of place and identity for the building.The building is characterised by brick reveals at a depth of three and a half bricks and provides a visual solidity that defines the character of the building.IG Masonry Support was the chosen supplier of masonry support and brick slip solutions for the award-winning project.SolutionIG Masonry Support’s easy-to-install Welded Masonry Support (WMS) was supplied in several variations, including special corner systems for each of the 24 levels of the building, including the parapet. Cast-in Channel was also supplied to the project, providing high adjustability and enabling quick and easy installation of the WMS systems.For the large entrance on the North West elevation, a mechanically-fixed Brick Slip Lintel, compliant with the new Fire Safety: Approved Document B of the Building Regulations, was supplied for a 2035mm opening. The Brick Slip Lintel was designed to suit a soldier course bond pattern with a face height and soffit return of 215mm.For the three brick-deep window reveals, mechanically-fixed B.O.S.S. (Brick on Soffit System) proved the ideal solution. 1242 individual units, in 593 variations were designed, manufactured, and supplied to the project to suit a soldier course bond pattern. A consignment of bricks was collected from site to be utilised on each unit and then once complete, units were delivered to the site, ready to be easily bolted to each Welded Masonry Support system.As well as creating a visually appealing finish, the depth of the window reveals on the Southern and Western elevations has been designed to provide inherent solar shading, mitigating overheating and avoiding the need for mechanical cooling, creating a sustainable benefit of the build.Kindred House is an exemplary build proven by winning the Large Housing Development category at the 2023 Brick Development Association Brick Awards and being shortlisted in the Mixed-Use category at the 2023 AJ Architecture Awards. 

The regeneration of a former BT brownfield site, this 167-bed accommodation in Stirchley consists of 101 studios, a student hub, leisure facilities, a retail unit and an enhanced public space. Targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, this contemporary building comprises brickwork and terracotta tile detailing and features a stunning curved bull-nose brick façade due to the site being bounded by Pershore Road and Dogpool Lane.Following a tour of IG Masonry Support’s manufacturing operations in Swadlincote and Brick Cutting facility in Overseal, brickwork contractor Meath Build Ltd chose IG Masonry Support to design and manufacture the masonry support and brick soffit package for the development.ChallengeThe project’s unusual, curved façade was one of the defining challenges on this build as it would be extremely difficult and time-consuming to complete with traditional hand-laid brickwork. This design feature required IG Masonry Support’s unrivalled experience and ability to deliver complex brickwork with precision and efficiency.In addition, the use of a steel frame rather than a concrete slab introduced further complexities. This would mean that components had to be pre-set, with masonry support specially designed to fit around the steel frame structure.Furthermore, the masonry support had to be spanned to accommodate breaks in the wing plates around the piers.SolutionFollowing a site survey, IG Masonry Support produced a variety of solutions to overcome the design challenges presented during the development of this student accommodation. This required coordination and regular design meetings with all parties to avoid any clashes with other building elements and ensure the build remained on schedule.A1 fire-rated Brick Slip Lintels were required for the smaller openings on both the ground and first levels of the build (under 3.6m) while bespoke Curved Lintels were required to support the tiled finish on the curved façade. A1 fire-rated and carbon neutral B.O.S.S. A1 units in soldier course bond were required for larger openings on levels one to four of the building. Many of these were fabricated as smaller units to account for the curved façade design.On the curved run of B.O.S.S. A1, there were several high load areas with windows above and in-between the brick piers. IG Masonry Support therefore had to adapt its units to suit these loads and the tiled finish on the curved façade. Rather than the usual serrated lock washers, the bespoke lintels were designed and manufactured by IG Masonry Support with rear restraints which involved fabricating holes on the back of the lintels to provide more surface area and thus more space for additional mortar. This would ensure extra support for the extreme loads and double skin brickwork. These lintels also matched the curve of the façade.Through close collaboration with brickwork contractor Meath Build Ltd and the design team, IG Masonry Support provided technical and design assistance, and a range of bespoke brickwork solutions for the Pershore Junction’s unique curved façade detail. The company’s onsite expertise and offsite manufacturing capability proved integral to realising this stand-out architectural feature and its aesthetically pleasing finish.

Regent’s Park Regeneration is a £72m development which has seen the creation of 122 affordable new homes and community facilities in Camden, north-west London.The scheme, on behalf of Camden Council, followed the demolition of housing and businesses in the area to make way for the High Speed 2 rail link between London and the West Midlands. As a result, Lovell Homes London, in conjunction with architects Ingleton Wood, was selected to deliver the new homes across eight sites within the existing estate. The one-to-five-bedroom apartments are situated in an inner-city location with buildings ranging from three-to-eleven storeys in height.ChallengeEach building within the Regent’s Park Regeneration presented a slightly different challenge, with the brick elements playing a vital role in fulfilling the architect’s vision for each of the blocks.Various brickwork features in an array of bespoke designs were required for the exterior of the blocks. Traditionally, achieving these features requires skilled labour cutting bricks onsite, a time-consuming process which IG Masonry Support’s offsite manufacture of bespoke, pre-fabricated brick slip components helped to significantly speed-up.SolutionThe intricate brick detail achieved at the Regent’s Park Regeneration project highlights the design versatility of IG’s offsite brick slip solutions.The company worked with the architect from an early stage to design effective offsite solutions which enabled the project’s complex brick details to be achieved across the eight buildings; Cape of Good Hope, Newlands, Rydal Water, Robert Street, St Bede’s, Varndell, The Victory Pub and Dick Collins House.IG Masonry Support was challenged to supply brick slip soffit solutions, accommodating the range of different sized openings and soffit requirements throughout the development. A combination of Brick Slip Lintels and B.O.S.S. units capable of achieving both stretcher and soldier course bond patterns, were designed by IG’s technical team. These offsite units achieved the beautiful brick soffits over apartment block windows and openings on the various elevations of the buildings throughout the development.The Newlands and Rydal Water buildings presented complex brickwork elements that required IG’s technical team to design bespoke B.O.S.S. units to achieve the detailing specified within the architect’s designs. Beautiful brick soffits varying in depth from 102mm to 440mm feature over the balconies on every corner of these apartment blocks, as well as recess panels with 102mm brick soffits in a stretcher bond pattern on each elevation. A flying beam features on the upper level balconies of the Varndell building. This architectural detail, which has a 665mm soffit, was also achieved using bespoke-designed B.O.S.S. units. IG Masonry Support’s precise, prefabricated solutions manufactured using a consignment of bricks from site, blended seamlessly within the buildings’ eye-catching exterior.From design stage to delivery, IG Masonry Support worked alongside the contractor and the architect to deliver complex brickwork elements that formed an integral part of the design of the buildings. The result is a stunning, modern inner-city housing development which has not only been shortlisted for a host of industry honours including the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence, New London Architecture Awards, and RICS Social Impact Awards; it’s provided new homes and peace of mind for hundreds of residents whose domestic lives were transformed by the government’s ambitious rail project.

The Southmere housing development is being built as part of a regeneration project, designed to revitalise the Harrow Manor Way area of South East London. New residences will be mixed tenure units, including both shared ownership and affordable rent units, within a range of attractive tower block and town houses.IG Masonry Support supplied products for buildings C1, C4 and C5, totaling nine blocks. The entire development is valued at £126m and IG Masonry Support’s product package for this development is the largest the company has supplied to a project since its inception. The introduction of new building regulations set out by Approved Document B meant the brickwork contractor needed to find products which met the conditions. IG Masonry Support’s B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System) met these standards, making them the ideal choice of supplier.ChallengeThe most obvious challenge for IG Masonry Support was the sheer scale of the project, as products were required for all nine blocks across Phase 1B. As a result, the timescale from order to delivery was tight. IG Masonry Support assembled a dedicated team of technical detailers and engineers for the duration of the build programme to provide full customer service and in-depth technical support.An inherent challenge of the project was the unique building design and intricate brickwork programme, which would be too irregular to use off-the-shelf products. The client would instead require bespoke products and innovative solutions to meet their specifications. For example, the recessed column feature meant that the columns were only half supported by the slab; therefore requiring a top bracket which was fixed to the slab to provide full support to the brick columns.IG Masonry Support has demonstrated its innovation through its use of the new Cavity Tray Brick Slip Lintel. This was designed specifically for the Southmere project and is now being specified and utilised on many other schemes to meet the new Part L Building Regulations. It also offers a quick and practical solution for brick soffit detail. The manufacturer designed a custom waterproof gasket fixing to prevent moisture travelling through gaps in the lintel and tray, while ensuring the aesthetic finish at the face. IGMS also created a bespoke Windpost design with special kinked plates to comply with the surrounding build work. Its B.O.S.S. units and arches were identified of a size and weight which could make installation difficult so IGMS adjusted the design accordingly to fix back the products.Providing technical drawings also presented a further challenge, as it was difficult to co-ordinate the brick bonds to ensure the brick soffits would perfectly tie in with the adjacent brickwork. Any brick bonds that didn’t perfectly blend were reported to IG Masonry Support and were quickly rectified and redelivered to site, to ensure the build programme remained on schedule.Additionally, the build programme was constantly changing due to being carried out during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Therefore, IGMS had to adapt to the evolving requirements. IGMS’ priority became producing products more quickly than anticipated at times in order to meet tight deadlines.SolutionOn the Southmere development, IG Masonry Support was able to provide bespoke designs with a quick turnaround. The client initially enquired about products in December 2019 and following a consultation and approval period for design, received its first order just six months later, which was remarkably fast considering the bespoke nature of the products. Considering the large quantities of product, IGMS prefabricated them to ensure a faster installation speed for the client.IG Masonry Support worked closely with customer Landmark Brickwork, main contractor Durkan and Four Point Architects throughout the build programme and all were highly impressed with the level of detail in the technical details provided by IG Masonry Support. They were also very pleased with the level of detail in quoting and the dedication of the team in collaborating, and delivering requirements.The Phase 1B brickwork programme specified a variety of brick types, which changed regularly throughout the numerous blocks. IG Masonry Support’s team were in constant communication with the relevant parties to ensure that the products blended correctly. Block C4, in particular, had an unusual bond pattern, so coordinating the brickwork required planning and engagement from the IGMS team.On the Southmere project, the client was highly impressed that IG Masonry Support was able to provide the desirable aesthetic finish, without comprising on the bespoke elements while working to tight, frequently changing timescales. The client was also pleased with IG Masonry Support’s commitment to the build programme and its dedicated technical team of detailers and engineers who attended design meetings every week.IG Masonry Support’s prefabricated products resulted in an overall reduction of labour on the project. The final invoice value to Landmark Brickwork was also within 1% of the initial quotation, allowing them to remain within the build programme budget. The provision of IG’s quality brickwork support solutions has led to an efficiently constructed modern housing development that will breathe new life into Thamesmead.

Featuring 20 restaurants, bars and cafes, the three-storey, canal-side destination is located within a 36-acre nature-filled landscape that has been commercially-reimagined, with designers using the site’s Victorian train station and warehouse buildings as inspiration. The nearby historic Lace Market, the epicentre of the world’s lace industry during the 19th century and now a protected heritage area, was also an influence on the Island Quarter’s architectural form.With the creation of 1,600 new homes and 6,000 office jobs included as part of the masterplan architects claim, that as a verdant archipelago, The Island Quarter is ‘setting the scene for something really different’ for city centre mixed-used developments. For this high-profile, complex project, IG Masonry Support was selected to design and manufacture 19 Brick Slip Arches that met the structural and aesthetic requirements for The Canal Turn building within the development.ChallengeIG Masonry Support was selected for The Island Quarter programme following its successful completion of similarly complex projects in conjunction with brickwork contractor, Lee Marley. Our brief was to design and manufacture 19 Brick Slip Arches, 17 at ground level, and two at fourth-floor level, of the site’s main building. The greatest challenge in this respect was coordinating the brickwork configuration of two deep-soffit arches, which were to meet at a 90-degree angle at the structure’s ground level corner.In addition, the siting and size of two large arches at the building’s uppermost level provided a potential issue.SolutionThe experience and expertise of IG Masonry Support’s technical team was essential to ensuring the 90-degree corner arches’ unique formation complemented the surrounding building work. Following extensive research and detailed assessments, a complex system involving a large volume of steel and brickwork was designed and embedded within the structure’s corner section, thus providing a suitable base for the deep-soffit arches to meet at the correct angle. For the finish, our half-arch solution combined with our innovative B.O.S.S. deep-soffit system, proved ideal.In terms of the logistical operation to install the two large arches on the building’s fourth level, we required engagement with Nottingham City Council to implement appropriate road closures during their delivery. Due to their size, the arches were delivered separately and once on site, were carefully craned towards the top of the building. This process was particularly challenging, as there was little space (half-metre) for the contractor to install the heavy structures into the correct position.Thanks to the design skills of our technical team in supplying a solution that was bespoke and precision-made for this application, the corner arches were an identical fit. They provided the impressive building with a unique feature and an aesthetically-pleasing finish. The prefabricated nature of the arches not only guaranteed their controlled and high-quality manufacture, it led to a more rapid and cost-effective installation, with the units being delivered straight to site for immediate implementation. This outcome would not have been possible with traditional brickwork and might have delayed The Island Quarter’s scheduled and much-anticipated opening in late 2022.