PROJECT : UNLOCKING the ARCHIVES
PROJECT NUMBER: DPU001
Client: ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
Architect: STUDIO DOWNIE
M&E Consultants: STUDIO DOWNIE
Contractor: DURKAN PUDELEK (DESIGN& BUILD)
The Royal Geographical Society’s (RGS) new exhibition centre, consists of a ground level exhibition pavilion and a below ground archive and reading room, situated beneath the rear garden of their Headquarters building at No. 1 Kensington Gore. The building is contained within a complete “Secant” piled wall to protect the construction from the high water table, present in the terrace gravels. The new RC framed structure, including raft foundation was constructed in reinforced concrete within the Secant piled walls. Waterproofing of the new structure was of importance due to the intended exhibition and archive space and consisted of an external membrane, reinforced concrete designed in accordance with BS 8007 and internal drained cavities to vertical and horizontal surfaces.