The Lighthouse, Cardiff Bay
2007
The Lighthouse forms part of Bellway Homes' Prospect Place development overlooking Cardiff Bay. The L-shaped structure has a 12-storey main block and a 60-storey wing and comprises 20 studios, 24 one-bedroom and 58 two-bedroom apartments as well as four penthouses. This high rise residential development was originally conceived and gained planning approval as a reinforced concrete structure, but was ultimately built using steel.
The original planning application included an overall building height based on a floor thickness of 475mm, which Slimdek was easily able to achieve. The use of the Slimdek flooring system required no formwork, and led to quicker construction that allowed the follow-on trades to start work much earlier.
The Slimdek system offered:
- speed of construction, allowing follow-on work to start earlier
- quicker lead-in time and no formwork
- the opportunity to build the floors as the frame progressed
- lower weight compared to reinforced concrete, resulting in reduced foundation costs
- a floor depth of 325mm excluding the suspended ceiling
- compliance with Part E of the Building Regulations
Fact file
Client
Bellway Homes
Architect
BMG Architects
Main Contractor
Bellway Homes
Structural Engineer
Bingham Hall O'Hanlon
Steelwork Contractor
Bison Structures
