Masonry Magazine June 1983 Page. 9
Old Norwegian Building Acquires
New Lease on Life
Cost-effective British conservation technology used in process
A 1920s, five-story masonry building, weighing some 2,600 tons, was raised and moved five meters in southern Norway, using technology developed by a British firm, Pynford Services Ltd. of Farnham. England. The firm also redesigned the building's interior to accommodate an extra story.
The remodeled structure, which incorporates office, warehouse and garage space, cost less than demolition and new construction, and conserves a valued example of Norwegian masonry design.
Formerly a Seamen's Hostel, the structure was moved back to coincide with the general building line in Vestre Strand Gate, Kristiansand, allowing road widening to begin. Having re-sited the building, Pynford raised the whole structure by 1.2 meters to create space for the extra story.
Using its stooling technique, Pynford constructed a framework of reinforced concrete beams, supported by six reinforced concrete columns. The columns support a new ground floor, and the framework of beams allows the building to be remodeled internally.
Packaging the Building
Erected in 1923, the Seamen's Hostel is a substantial concrete and brick building, 24 x 12 meters, whose foundations and floors are of an early reinforced concrete design that imparts considerable rigidity. However, initial surveys revealed that the loadbearing walls required strengthening prior to the move.
Pynford's strengthening technique is to bond steel plates with epoxy resin to both sides of structural basement walls, tying these through the wall thickness with bolts at 1 meter intervals. Corners and abutting walls are secured using steel anchor bars welded onto the bonded plates and inserted through the walls to form anchorage hooks. Existing openings such as windows and doors are temporarily closed with concrete blocks.
The Seamen's Hostel at its original location in Vestre Strand Gate, Kristiansand, Norway.
New position of building
etres
Overhead view of the flat concrete raft which became the new foundation slab. The size and cost of the raft were reduced by extending it under only two-thirds of the building.
Existing position of building
Lifting and moving of the building prior to the addition of another story.
MASONRY-MAY/JUNE, 1983 9