Roger Bullivant Limited was employed to carry out the piling works for the £16.5m renovation at York’s Guildhall site, one of the city’s most historically significant buildings. Guildhall will see its first major restoration and redevelopment in over 60 years. The building will undergo vital restoration and redevelopment.
The Guildhall originally dates back from the 15th century and was extensively rebuilt after being destroyed in the World War in 1942. It has since been used as council chambers.
The vital restoration and redevelopment will secure the long-term future for the site, offering high-quality office space, spaces for community use , a café, a new riverside restaurant, and better access for residents.
Guildhall is situated on the River Ouse, the complex contains a collection of Grade I, II* and II listed buildings built around the 15th century hall and riverside meeting room, with parts dating from 1445.
Naturally, this project faced many challenges from challenging ground conditions, piling engineering for the restoration of part of the building through to the continuous challenges regarding restricted access.
The only access to the site at the first stage was via the front entrance through a fairly small brickwork corridor from a restricted access road. Guildhall is located within St Helen’s Square, an urban courtyard surrounded by fashion, lifestyle, and eateries. A crane was therefore required to lift materials from a barge supplied from a loading area on the other side of the River Ouse.
Design and installation of mini piled underpinning system to underpin the North Range Annexe to the existing Guildhall as well as the design and installation of piles for the South Range and North Annexe new build sections.
VINCI Construction UK, Project Manager
“The piling has been completed successfully and professionally by the Roger Bullivant team within what is a very constrained site, the team consistently provided solutions to overcome the challenges that we faced”.
City of York Council, Assistant Director of Regeneration and Assest Management
“This unique project requires firms who are willing to work on a complex, historic site, with precision and within a tight city centre location. We’re pleased to see the piling completed, forming the foundations of the new buildings.”