The next phase in reviving Bristol’s historic waterfront

Wapping Wharf Phase II - Engineering Services

Wapping Wharf has become a vibrant destination overlooking Bristol’s iconic Harbourside. Phase II comprises 256 new-build apartments for sale and for rent, including 49 shared-ownership, together with six retail units, new public space and an undercroft car park.

We provided a variety of engineering services for the scheme. This initially included civil and structural engineering work from RIBA Stage 2. At RIBA Stage 4, we took on extra mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design and were novated to advise on civil, structural, and MEP design.

Due to the overall design, combined with height restrictions, many of the apartments were atypical and didn’t stack. Our MEP team value engineered the project and streamlined the design part of the process by using Revit 3D software to model different design solutions before installation.

Since this was a large, phased development, our team needed to reconfigure the existing heating plant distribution and associated controls to fully integrate the second phase of the development. We carefully planned work on the heating system to reduce disruptions to residents living in the first phase of the development.

Additionally, our acoustics team assisted the contractors in resolving noise issues affecting a small number of residents arising from the mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems and a substation used in Phase I. We also assessed the noise from the ground floor substation, which housed the transformer, and designed a second layer of insulation matting, creating a double layer of isolation material.

Wapping Wharf has rapidly become a vibrant destination overlooking Harbourside, currently with around 1,000 residents revelling in this slice of maritime culture on their doorstep with more to follow in future phases. The development also provides an important new connection between South Bristol and the city centre following the opening of Gaol Ferry Steps, which runs through the heart of the new neighbourhood.