York Minster Centre of Excellence

Both structures required a highly sensitive approach to the foundations, due in part to the presence of Roman archaeology around two metres deep throughout the York Minster site. The Heritage Quad, with its relatively lightweight design, is constructed atop a continuous shallow raft which itself is founded in the made ground above. The foundation strategy was informed by detailed soil-structure interaction analysis, allowing the raft to span localised variations in ground conditions while remaining entirely within the made ground layer.

The Technology Hub posed additional challenges; new foundations adjacent to the foundations of historic surrounding buildings had to be combined with bases for both the saws and a gantry crane to move the large stones to be cut. In addition, a new water treatment facility and a large attenuation tank for storm water had to be coordinated below ground. A raft slab is used to maintain a shallow formation level, which helps prevent the undermining of adjacent footings and has been carefully detailed to support the new machinery, as well as incorporate channel drains to manage the water.

The project supports the long-term craft, research, and making that underpin the care and future of one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe.