Carman Contracting has recently completed an intricate renovation project at Cardiff Crown Court for leading multi-technical installation and maintenance provider, Equans. What was originally lift stabilisation work has developed into a complex project that required the company's expertise in heritage restoration, structural repairs and underground drainage works.

Carman Contracting has a longstanding relationship with Equans which resulted in the company being instructed to carry out the works at the historic Court, which dates back to 1904. The lift shaft and courtyard were not added to the building until the mid-20th century and 2004, respectively.

The project initially focussed on restoring an existing passenger lift that had become inoperable due to settlement and cracking surrounding the structure. "The lift shaft had subsided, causing the lift to be taken out of service and creating an inconvenience for the court's staff and visitors," explained John Graham, Operations Manager at Carman Contracting. "The project was challenging due to the courtyard's location. Our approach was to provide specialised resin injection underpinning instead of traditional methods to rectify the subsidence issues."

As the work progressed, Carman Contracting unearthed additional complexities in the courtyard housing the lift shaft. Severe subsidence had caused the drainage to collapse, causing further problems and rendering the custody suite toilets unusable. As a result of these unexpected findings, the scope of the project expanded, and Carman Contracting was instructed to conduct a comprehensive survey and subsequently undertake remedial repairs to the collapsed drainage system.

In addition to lift stabilisation and drainage works, the project has entailed heritage restoration. This included repointing and repairing the historic Portland stone masonry on the building's exterior envelope and restoring concrete and brickwork. 

"We have had to draw on our extensive capabilities for this project," concluded John. "From delicate heritage restoration to innovative structural stabilisation and comprehensive drainage solutions, we've tackled every challenge head-on. Our team's technical expertise and dedication has resulted in a successful renovation and repair project that will preserve this historic court for many more years.