Blue Bicycle Restaurant York

Overview

Mason Clark Associates (MCA) were appointed by a private client to undertake structural repair work to a popular two-storey city centre restaurant. The restaurant was in a state of disrepair having been left for a number of years propped up without any idea of a project direction following heavy flooding in December 2015.

Tasks / challenges

Due to the condition of the building the client required a full assessment of its structural integrity, and guidance for repair work to bring the building back into use. The building had been left in a dangerous and inhabitable state and required complicated temporary repair works to be carried out to ensure contractors could safely undertake the necessary internal and external work.

Following the completion of the temporary repair works, MCA engineers carried out the detailed design of the full structural repair works. This proved to be quite challenging because of the extensive repair work required due to the damage the building had sustained. The building's restricted access meant the remedial works were difficult to undertake, adding to the complexity of the project.

Activity

MCA engineers carefully analysed all of the existing defects and developed a detailed propping design to stabilise the structure to allow the works to be carried out safely, and carefully monitored each stage of the works with laser technology.

New foundations consisted of mini piles inserted within the footprint of the basement with a new reinforced concrete ground slab built over and keyed into the perimeter walls to re-support the structure onto sound material. It was essential that our team of engineers worked to impeccable levels of Health and Safety throughout the project, ensuring all aspects of the work strictly adhered to risk assessments and method statements.

Results

The flood damage was successfully repaired, and the building restored to how it formerly was.

The super structure was repaired where walls were separated and the overall robustness of the building is improved.

MCA engineers worked dynamically to deal with and overcome a number of unexpected changes due to hidden defects within the building, which only became apparent as work progressed.

Blue Bicycle has now reopened as a restaurant, four years after the floods.