View source for Unit One, Mountpark Bardon Distribution Park, Leicestershire

==Article in [https://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/digi/2016pdf/NSCSept2016digi.pdf#page=18 NSC September 2016]==
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'''Amazon flows into central England'''<br>
The centrepiece of a new distribution park is a huge [[Retail_buildings#Distribution warehouses|warehouse]] for the world’s largest online retailer.<br> 

[[Retail_buildings#Distribution centres|Distribution centres]] don’t come much larger than the colossal shed being built for online retailer Amazon, which is currently nearing completion at the Mountpark Bardon site near Coalville, Leicestershire. Known as unit one, and the first of three new centres to be built on the site, the structure measures 504m in length and has a width of 184m, offering just over one million square feet of floor space.

Main contractor Winvic started on this greenfield site, which is separated from Mountpark’s existing distribution park by a main road, back in 2015. Groundworks, drainage and some hardstanding surrounding the building’s footprint was mostly completed prior to Caunton Engineering’s [[Construction#Steel erection|steel erection]] programme starting. Working on a [[Single_storey_industrial_buildings#Design_.26_Build|design and build]] contract, Caunton completed its [[Construction#Steel erection|erection]] programme in just nine weeks, despite some inclement weather during May and June.

The structure is a large [[Portal_frames|portal frame]] consisting of six spans. The two outer spans are 35m-wide, while the inner four spans measure 28.5m wide.

Perimeter columns are large [[Steel_section_sizes|914 UB sections]], set at 8.5m centres. Internally the columns are all bespoke columns [[Fabrication|fabricated]] from [[Steel_construction_products#Flat products - plates|plate]]. Arranged in a hit-and-miss configuration throughout the structure, thereby creating more column-free space within the building, the columns measure
650mm deep × 400mm wide, with 25mm flanges. 
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“The perimeter columns are larger sections than we’d usually use as they were initially designed to support a [[Single_storey_industrial_buildings#Mezzanines|mezzanine]] level, which was subsequently removed from the [[Design|design]],” says Caunton Engineering Senior Structural Engineer Gavin Christie. Using bespoke [[Steel_construction_products#Plate girders|plated sections]] was deemed the best way of optimising inertia throughout the [[Portal_frames|portal frame]]. “The internal valley columns need to be stocky as they are unrestrained over their 16m height,” adds Mr Christie.

For the [[Construction#Steel erection|erection]] programme Caunton used four 50t-capacity [[Construction#Mobile cranes|mobile cranes]] in conjunction with a variety of MEWPs. “We worked in an arrow formation, [[Construction#Steel erection|erecting]] the two innermost spans first up to certain amount of bays, and then [[Construction#Steel erection|erecting]] the outer spans along with the perimeter columns. This process was repeated all thorough the length of the structure” explains Caunton Engineering Erection Manager Richard Patterson. “In this way the central spans were stable once they were up and they then offered [[Concept_design#Structural options for stability|stability]] to the outer spans during [[Construction#Steel erection|erection]].”

All of the roof rafters were [[Fabrication#Handling and transportation|brought to site]] in two pieces, which were [[Moment_resisting_connections#Splices|spliced]] on the ground to form either one 35m-long or 28m-long section and lifted into place as a single element. However, as other trades were following on behind the [[Construction#Steel erection|steel erection]], floor space was sometimes at a premium and on these occasions each half of a rafter was lifted into place individually and [[Moment_resisting_connections#Splices|spliced]] together in the air.

Along one elevation the [[Retail_buildings#Distribution centres|distribution centre]] has over 50 truck loading bays, while on the opposite side of the building there is an attached office block. The single-storey structure is 220m-long and consists of two 11m-wide spans throughout its length. Topped with a gullwing roof structure, a [[Design|design]] where both sides of the roof pitch inwards, the office is surrounded by a 4m-high parapet that hides a plant deck. The office structure gains its [[Concept_design#Structural options for stability|stability]] from the attached [[Retail_buildings#Distribution centres|distribution centre]] main frame, as well as from strategically placed [[Continuous_frames|moment frames]].

[[Retail_buildings#Speed of construction|Speed is of the essence]] on all [[Construction|construction]] projects and this one is no exception. Having completed its steel package ahead of schedule, other trades were able to get a head start and so ensure the [[Retail_buildings#Distribution centres|distribution centre]] meets its October completion date.
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==Second unit under way==
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On an adjoining site, with a similar project team containing main contractor Winvic and steelwork contractor Caunton Engineering, unit two of the development is under way. This [[Portal_frames|portal-framed]] structure has a similar [[Design|design]] to its larger neighbour, although it is less than half the size of the Amazon [[Retail_buildings#Distribution warehouses|warehouse]] offering 315,000 square feet of warehouse and office space.

The speculative build structure measures 250m-long and consists of four 28m-wide spans, with perimeter columns spaced at 8m centres and valley columns again arranged in a hit-and-miss configuration. A total of 850t of structural steelwork was needed to complete this unit. Valley columns are [[Steel_section_sizes|356 UC sections]], perimeter columns [[Steel_section_sizes|610 UBs]], while gable end members are [[Steel_section_sizes|457 UBs]].

Aiming for a [[Sustainability#Understanding BREEAM|BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating]] unit two is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, by which time unit three, the smallest of the three [[Retail_buildings#Distribution centres|distribution centres]], should be under way.

{|class="wikitable" width="400"
|-
|'''Architect'''||Michael Sparks Associates
|-
|'''Structural Engineer'''||BWB Consulting
|-
|'''Steelwork Contractor'''||Caunton Engineering
|-
|'''Main Contractor'''||Winvic Construction
|-
|'''Main Client'''||Mountpark Logistics
|}

[[Category:Case studies - Retail buildings]]