Curtins provided civil and structural engineering services for the new fully piled and steel framed £7.5 million bus depot as well as providing an improved working environment including modern recreational and welfare facilities for around 400 staff and 140 vehicles.

The new centre was built on an area of land reclaimed from the river estuary at the turn of the nineteenth century. Curtins provided project management services during the demolition and site clearance phase to remove existing distribution and warehousing.

Concurrent with this extensive site investigation was undertaken to confirm ground conditions and existing drainage provision serving the site.

Due to extensive poor ground conditions and a high ground water table it was considered essential to fully pile the building and ground slabs with tied transition and rocker slabs to link with external ground bearing slabs on a tensar geogrid foundation.

Approximately 10000m³ of demolition arisings have been retained on site as engineering fill for reuse in the scheme.

Due to the proximity of the site to the River Itchen the drainage network is surcharged by sea water twice daily - Extensive drainage modelling was undertaken to determine attenuation requirements with the introduction of a non return value on the outfall of the surface water network to prevent sea water entering the site drainage system special consideration was given to the provision of an above ground drainage interceptor to deal with poor ground conditions.

Extensive liaison with the Environment Agency and Local planning authority was necessary through all stages of the Design and construction process.