Sheffield Hallam University

Our brief

Lithos Consulting worked alongside ARUP to perform the role of ground investigation contractor at Sheffield Hallam University’s proposed Science Park.

Site characteristics

The site is located adjacent to the existing iconic Student’s Union building and currently comprises offices and a car park.  The investigation involved assessment of coal mining risks via 12 no. rotary cored boreholes to look for risks associated with the underlying Silkstone Coal seam.  In addition, cores of retaining walls were required, along with inspection pits in surrounding footpaths to identify the line and depth of various utilities.

What we did

Working in the city centre where footfall and traffic was heavy, health & safety considerations were paramount, and exploratory locations were often highly constrained. We overcame these difficulties through effective delegation to specialist firms including; traffic management, civil engineering, and drilling contractors.

One of the biggest risks of working in urban environments is underground utilities.  On this project, knowledge of their whereabouts was paramount to the proposed buildings’ design.  Therefore, Lithos organised and supervised excavation of utility inspections pits using vacuum extraction techniques; this enabled us to minimise risks to our staff and subcontractors on site, whilst still obtaining the data needed.  All pits were reinstated to the satisfaction of Sheffield City Council in line with their specifications.

As with any project of this nature, communication between various stakeholders was key.  In this case, we had to satisfy requirements of BAM, Sheffield Hallam University, a multitude of subcontractors, members of the public and Sheffield City Council.

The outcome

Our investigation was completed safely, on-time and within the client’s budget.