Project Overview
Leading provider of construction and infrastructure services Kier was appointed by Portsmouth City Council to construct new border control buildings for Portsmouth International Port. Secured through the Procure Partnerships framework the £17.1m project will support the wider ambitions of this new free port for Solent. This is one of the largest investment projects in the port’s history and it set to generate 100 new jobs.
Kier started enabling works on site in March 2021 and has been operating with supply chain partners on the project including EOS Framing – appointed to design, engineer and offsite manufacture our Thrubuild® loadbearing system for the new border control buildings. In an environment of increasing skills shortages and failing supply chains, the construction industry is being challenged like never before to deliver robust buildings, faster with greater certainty around cost and programme schedules.
In response to these challenges, EOS has developed a range of Thrubuild® systems. These complete walling and flooring systems use offsite manufacture and the latest testing to deliver structures faster, with assured performance built in. Developed in collaboration with Etex brands – EOS, Siniat, and Promat – these fast-track solutions make use of the latest products, technical know-how and manufacturing excellence of the combined team. Thrubuild® delivers an ‘all in one’ solution providing crucial time and cost benefits.
A system approach ensured the outcome was predictable and repeatable, eradicating the risk of onsite variability. By rigorously testing all the components in the system together, a Thrubuild® approach can be relied upon to offer excellent fire, acoustic and thermal capabilities. Thrubuild ® systems have been tested and assessed for compliance with the latest regulations and standards to ensure a robust and reliable performance.
All systems have been engineered for structural performance to the latest Eurocodes. As well as constructing highly secure and robust buildings, environmental credentials were also at the forefront of the plans, as any new development must meet the target for Portsmouth International Port to become the UK’s first net carbon neutral port by 2030. This is where Thrubuild® excels. As a highly sustainable system, Thrubuild® was used to great effect to develop buildings within the structure – creating offices, meeting and inspection rooms together with storage facilities, including refrigerated units for chilled and frozen products.
This has allowed the port to expand to increase its role in providing critical routes for UK-EU trade serving the western channel and providing resilience against the challenges of the short crossings in Kent.
