Milieu

The design was conceived as a ‘kit of parts’ construction, allowing rapid assembly and minimal disruption to the busy surrounding streets. A right of access cutting through the site meant the structure needed to span without ground-level supports. A cantilevering frame was developed that avoided the need for heavy podium structures or extensive temporary works, making full use of the footprint from first floor upwards.

The building combines paired steel Ts forming a primary column and beam system with CLT walls and floors. This hybrid approach uses each material for its strengths, creating a lightweight frame that could be delivered and installed directly from lorries, avoiding the need for laydown space. The CLT floor plates act compositely with the steel frame to provide diaphragm action and overall stability, reducing structural depth and supporting the cantilever over the pedestrian passage. The exposed structural elements reduced on-site construction time compared with more conventional systems and now define the architectural expression.