Case Study : Oriel Mostyn Art Gallery

Oriel Mostyn Art Gallery:

Abbey Pynford were challenged to design and install the temporary works to allow a retro-fit steel frame to be constructed within the existing art gallery. The frame was required to allow load bearing walls to be removed, to create a large open plan room for the gallery. The frame was installed at 3rd floor level, whilst leaving the 4th and 5th floors occupied throughout the course of the works.

Due to architectural requirements it was essential that the beams were installed tightly to the underside of the floors above. This did not leave sufficient room for a conventional needle scheme, also as the works were on the 3rd floor, extensive propping works would have been required to transfer the loads to ground level.

Abbey Pynford installed a series of specifically design ‘Pynford stools’ to support the walls. The stools were positioned to mm tolerances to allow for the steel beams to be positioned and threaded through them to provide the permanent works support. All the stools were hydraulically jacked into position to pre-designed loads; this ensured the continuity of the load path, and prevented settlement.

The existing walls consisted of a loose stone construction held together in a lime mortar matrix. Installing the stools required careful sequencing to ensure that the existing masonry was not over stressed at any point.