The Lookout Holkham

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PDC have worked with Holkham Estates, for many years and have delivered a number of challenging projects, however, this one provided more engineering challenges than most.  The Lookout is nestled into the Holkham Nature Reserve and provides the public with a Visitor Centre that includes a Café, Toilets, Interpretation of the Nature and a viewing spot for wildlife.

PDC supported the client through the rigorous planning process with services such as Flood Risk Assessments and Topographical Surveys. We then undertook the Design and Contract Administration of an Enabling Works project to bring Utility Services to a building that is situated nearly 1km away from the main road and existing services.

For the building itself, we were tasked with the Civil and Structural detailed design.  There were a number of key design features of the building, including a circular reinforced concrete flood wall around the perimeter that retained an earth berm and fully exposed structural steelwork and roof timbers.  Both of these involved careful detailing to ensure a pleasing aesthetic feature whilst maintaining the structural integrity.

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Services undertaken:

  • Topographical survey
  • Flood Risk Assessment
  • Flood Response Plan
  • Piled Foundation design
  • Structural design
  • Reinforced concrete detailing
  • Surface water drainage design
  • Pumped foul water drainage design
  • Setting-Out
  • Road & Hardstanding level design
  • Utility Services Connections
  • Drone image capture of works progress
  • Contract Administration
  • Project Co-ordination