Piling has started on site at Nova in London, in a joint venture between Cementation Skanska and Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering.
The joint venture partners were appointed by Mace to carry out the ground engineering elements of this development for Land Securities.
Nova, Victoria is an 897,000 square feet mixed office, shopping, residential and public realm scheme is being developed in the West End, adjacent to London Victoria Station.
The project team is scheduled to be on site at the end of November to install a double basement with a 445 metre secant wall followed by the installation of 336 large diameter rotary bearing piles. The construction complexities include installing 251 of the bearing piles with plunge columns.
Ian Lovett, of Cementation Skanska and joint venture Project Director, said: “The team working on this project has built up a strong reputation with Mace, by delivering successful projects like London Bridge Place and the Shard. By working together we will draw on our experience in London’s commercial sector and use our technical knowledge to deliver this important project.”
Jane Towse, Project Director, Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering, said: “The close proximity of the secant wall to the adjacent Victoria Station Upgrade works and the future Crossrail 2 tunnel has introduced some unique challenges for our design and construction teams on this project. We have an excellent track record of working in joint venture with Cementation Skanska and everyone in the joint venture has worked really hard during the preparatory stages. We look forward to delivering an exemplary scheme.”
Tony Palgrave, Mace Project Director, said: “Appointing the Cementation Skanska and Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering joint venture to carry out the piling on Nova, Victoria was a natural decision considering the size and complexity of the project.
“The joint venture has a record of working well and we are seeing the benefits of this relationship already with their approach to overcoming some of the interesting challenges we are facing on the design and implementation of the project.”
