Project focus: CBX Building, Milton Keynes

EA Scaffolding & Systems Limited underook this complex scaffolding project during 2009.

The main works for this project allowed for removal and replacement of a large glass roof that spanned over a busy pedestrian mall underneath.

The basic requirements for the scaffold included:

• Scaffolding at ground level to be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Full working and protection platform required below existing glazed roof.
• Roof level access to be provided externally.
• External load bearing/protective gantrys.
• Weather protection required above existing glazed roof.

To overcome these challenges EA designed a slender beam and tower system from ground level on 2 sides only below the existing roof. A suspended deck was then installed from wire bonds secured to the existing over structure, this minimised scaffold presence at ground level and enabled rapid installation. Roof level access was provided using a system stairtower, as no physical anchors were possible due to a glass facade the tower was stabilised using aluminium lattice girders as flying shores to the adjacent building.

Provision of weather protection was a real challenge, as the flat roof surrounding the glass atrium was not load bearing. EA designed a complex orthogonal beam system in order to provide temporary roof supports through the existing opening using the existing columns for support. To further enhance the temporary roof and assist our client, EA installed a bi-directional beam runway system to the underside of the temporary roof. Effectively providing 'skyhooks' to greatly assist in removal of the existing roof and re-instatement of the new roof.

EA surpassed all clients expectations, completed this project on time, within budget with zero defects or incidents. Below are a selection of photographs for this challenging project.