Regeneration of Portsmouth waterfront

URS provided integrated engineering and environmental services for the prestigious residential development at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth in the UK.

Portsmouth has been a significant port for centuries but despite its distinguished history, over time many of its naval sites fell into disuse.

In 1996 the Gunwharf Quays site was sold to the Berkeley Group, who redeveloped it into a £200 million mixed use development.

Today the 33-acre Gunwharf Quays site provides high quality urban living, has excellent public transport links and accommodates the needs of private car owners efficiently.

At the heart of the development are two striking structures: the Spinnaker Tower and the One Gunwharf Quays residential tower. The Spinnaker Tower, which stands at 170 metres high, is the tallest publicly accessible building outside London.

One Gunwharf Quays stands at nearly 100 metres high and is the south coast’s tallest residential skyscraper. This 30-storey tower, with two thirteen and nine storey apartment blocks, now provides 311 prestigious waterside apartments, podium car parking and extensive landscaped amenity areas.

Since 2004, URS has provided integrated civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and geotechnical engineering, and environment services including wind and sustainability, for this development.

Extensive ‘optioneering’ at the concept design stage and engagement with the Berkeley Homes’ supply chain ensured the best value structural engineering solution was identified early on. URS advised the client of the opportunities and constraints for each potential engineering solution.

Earlier in the design process URS recommended to undertake wind tunnel testing on the planned form. The results identified issues with wind velocity and turbulence, which were resolved through minor form remodeling and the introduction of ground level ‘sails’.

Today the redeveloped site provides homes, ship berths, offices, hotels, shops, bars and restaurants, and a cinema and bowling complex. It has, and continues to play an important role in the wider regeneration of Portsmouth.