U.S EMBASSY (LONDON)

Leca lightweight aggregate (LWA) (10-20mm) was selected as one of the core materials employed in the development of the new American Embassy in London. This state of the art 12-glass cube rises to 213 feet and contains more than 500,000 square feet of space in London and was design by Philadelphia-based Kieran Timberlake. The embassy which has been a long time in the planning is now open.

The new American Embassy resides in one of London’s largest regeneration areas, Nine Elms, and is the near the iconic Battersea Power Station. The new embassy is a mile and a half south of the UK government’s Palace of Westminster and on the opposite bank of the Thames. A prime location for the City of London.

FACTS

Amount of material: 4000m3 of LECA LWA (10-20mm)

Interesting Fact: The frost resistant properties of the material was important as the Leca LWA was proposed to be installed around piping below the ground where frost susceptibility was high.

Delivery Method: 8-Wheel Tippers

Contractors: P J Carey Contractors

Overview of Project

Over 4000m3 of Leca LWA (10 – 20mm) was successfully installed by P J Carey Contractors ltd for this project. Leca LWA was used for this prestigious project and was selected because of Leca LWA’s core properties, which has made it a key material for geotechnical and structural engineering. “The frost resistant properties of the material was important as the Leca LWA was proposed to be installed around piping below the ground where frost susceptibility was high.” explains Project Engineer, Rajatheepan Balachandran of P J Carey Contractors LTD. This was alongside other core properties including speed of delivery, reduced earth pressure, limited compaction, low density and ease of handling.

Rajatheepan Balachandran goes on to explain “Leca LWA (10-20mm) was specified for its lightweight properties for a delicate landscaped area. It was essential for the material to be easily spread across the ground to create a smooth installation. It was utilised in an area where there would be a lot of foot traffic - so it was critical for the material to have limited compaction.”

He continues “The ability for the Leca LWA to be delivered on 8-wheel tippers and in 2.2m3 bags was a major benefit - as access to the site was extremely restricted and limited.”

The Leca LWA was specifically utilized for the area of the development where there will be a huge foot fall – with the purpose of minimizing the weight above the basement structure – providing additional strength and stability. Project Engineer, Rajatheepan Balachandran of P J Carey Contractors LTD concludes “The speed of delivery ensured that we could uphold our tight project deadlines.”