Project Update: Construction underway on The Silk District Phase 2

Words by BSBG Media Team, Friday 27 August 2021

Construction is underway on The Silk District Phase 2 project, located in Whitechapel, East London. Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG) was appointed during 2020 to deliver phase two of the residential development by developer Mount Anvil, in the Executive Architect and Lead Consultant roles. With the commencement of construction, Lead Architectural Technologist Mark Vaughan provides the updates.

“The project is now at stage 5 construction with piles completed. The concrete pour has also commenced and is currently at level two for the main residential tower,” Mark explains. Construction of The Silk District Phase 2 is itself split into two zones: the G+25 main tower, and a 7-storey adjoining building containing a range of affordable and intermediary apartments, in line with the Greater London Authority’s Affordable Housing Programme for new projects. The project features a number of sky gardens at intervals throughout the tower, some of which comprise Photovoltaics to provide green energy to the building. Private terraces adorn the top of the main tower, providing stunning views towards the City of London. BSBG was appointed as the Executive Architect and Lead consultant, and is also providing Construction Supervision services on the project.

“Our role now is largely focused on contractor engagement and review of shop drawings to ensure they are in line with design intent,” he continues. “We are hosting design workshops on a regular basis, and at this stage are working closely with the façade contractor TGM Façades, and MEP contractor HE Simm. We are fortunate to be working with two very capable contractors at this point, both of whom use BIM, and we are collaborating utilising BIM 360 on the project, which allows us to review models in 3D in real time as part of a digital engineering process. To date the efforts from the contractors has been excellent, and we believe the process will be of great benefit to the construction process as we move forward, enabling a well-planned and fully considered sequence.”

The process of clash detection is typically performed during advanced design stages, however Mark explains that on The Silk District Phase 2, this has been taken a step further as a means to support the client by reviewing models during the construction phase. “BIM 360 really allows us to work closely with the contractor in real time,” he explains. “It brings a great deal of transparency to the project. Often with contractors, they will move from 3D to 2D. But maintaining the 3D workflow in this project improves accuracy, speed of communication, and makes the development of the design accessible at all times to all stakeholders.”

The Silk District Phase 2 is a project where the potential and value of BIM has been fully extracted and maximised, Mark says, and this level of BIM awareness amongst developers is something that has grown exponentially in the last year both in BSBG projects in London and the Middle East. Through the use of BIM, BSBG has helped the client to realise some unique aspirations for the project in terms of detail. “We have just created an animated 3D sequencing detail that enables the contractor to visualise how certain components of the construction fit together,” Mark explains. “It’s a highly technical process and very challenging, but we were excited to rise to this challenge. To work alongside a client that has this level of awareness of the potential of BIM is very rare, and the level of technical detail and the emphasis on quality from Mount Anvil is a great thing to see. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for Mount Anvil and BSBG to push the technical output of BIM and work on detailing in this way, and we’ve really enjoyed the process. We believe we have created an end product that both parties are very happy with and can be proud of. ”

More to follow on the project as construction progresses.

BSBG Media Team

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