Walsh offers Geotechnical engineering and Geoenvironmental engineering consultancy focused on sustainable, buildable solutions for our clients from project inception through to completion.
Our Geotechnical engineering team has a combined experience of over 35 years, delivering complex geotechnical and contaminated land developments in London and around the UK. Geotechnical services can be commissioned as standalone studies or as a seamless extension to the wider civil engineering and structural engineering services offered by Walsh.
The real power of our integrated engineering service is in our exceptional team which has maintained a collegiate feel even as it has continued to grow. With over 130 staff based in a single office, communication and knowledge transfer between engineering disciplines is streamlined and efficient. For our clients, the direct collaboration between Civil, Structural, and Geotechnical mitigates risk, delivers programme surety and results in superior design solutions.
Read MoreRichard Ball, Walsh Geotechnical Director
Our in-house geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering team seeks to de-risk developments in the ground from the earliest opportunity, avoiding unforeseen ground conditions, taking advantage of opportunities offered by the ground and avoiding or utilising obstructions. This allows us to present the best design options and informs budget models from a technical and environmental perspective.
Walsh provides support to our clients from the pre-purchase acquisition of sites (RIBA Stage 0) and planning requirements through to completion and sign off of contamination and ground related planning conditions (RIBA Stage 6).
Our engineers run state of the art analysis software including PDISP, PLAXIS 3D, WALLAP, Oasys SLOPE, QGIS, OpenGround Cloud and bespoke in-house tools. This means that we can optimise foundation designs with a strong focus on sustainability, efficiency, and buildability.
Walsh’s Geotechnical specialists have a wealth of experience in ground conditions in the London area and throughout the UK, and are able to provide pragmatic ground investigation advice using this local knowledge. Site investigation contractors are carefully selected for each job and Walsh engineers visit site regularly to understand the ground, ensure the required information is being obtained and stay involved in the investigation decision making process.
The Walsh Geotechnical team are embedded within the wider structural and civils teams. Our investigation, analysis and reporting benefit from direct collaboration with these teams to ensure that we meet project requirements, and our analysis and investigations are tailored to the key project needs.
Sign up for our geotechnical and geoenvironmental newsletter and information emails. We won’t spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time!
This challenging site featured soft alluvium subsoil and infilled dock, so Walsh undertook a sensitivity analysis of the foundations and subsequently developed an innovative and economical, less carbon intensive raft solution. This allowed 30,000 sq ft of short lifespan lab space to be built within just a few months.
Read More
Walsh leveraged the power of integrated geotechnical and structural engineering to approach the foundation design for Calders Wharf from a new angle, using our experience of building over other railway assets in London to value engineer the development. We proposed the use of a ‘compensated raft’ approach, constructing a sacrificial basement to offset the weight of the building. Net loadings and tunnel displacements were reduced to agreed limits through an extensive and detailed liaison process with the DLR.
Read More
Walsh enabled much of this project to reuse the existing piled foundations, using the principles set out in BRE EP75: Reuse of Foundations for Urban Sites (RuFUS). We carried out a comprehensive back analysis of the structure which justified, wherever possible, the reuse of the existing sub and super structures. Partial demolition and reconfiguration of existing structures allowed the erection of eight buildings up to a maximum of 31-storeys.
Read More
Walsh provided geotechnical consultancy to assess the slope stability at the site, including review of ground investigation data, initial appraisals and site visits, analysis of existing and proposed cases and an options appraisal for remedial work.
Read More
Walsh’s in-house Geotechnical team provided an initial desk study and a detailed site investigation scope including boreholes, window samples, trial pitting, groundwater and gas monitoring. Walsh acted as investigation supervisor for the Phase 2 site investigation, engaging site investigation contractors working on the project and visiting site to confirm compliance to the scope of works. These findings were then used to establish a detailed ground model, informing contamination, waste and geotechnical recommendations for each phase.
Read More
The Walsh Geotechnical team provided planning approval and sign off for land contamination related planning conditions for Knight Dragon development plots in Greenwich.
Our work has included: Detailed quantitative gas risk assessments, Foundation Works Risk Assessment, Provision of Works Method Statement (WMS) and Ground Movement Analysis.
Sustainability is in our DNA and we have our own ambitious goals to achieve Net Zero as a business and with our designs. With innovative in-house monitoring tools, Walsh clients have seen on average reductions of 10-20% total embodied carbon, with some of our flagship work achieving 60-70% reductions compared with baseline figures.
Find Out More© Walsh 2023. All Rights Reserved. Web design by: So-Creative
