The Embassy Gardens (Phase 2) Project - A London centrepiece with 900 luxury apartments

Summary 
Project: Embassy Gardens (Phase 2) 
Products used:  Leviat Ancon STC Steel-to-Concrete Insulated Balcony Connectors  
Client: Walsh Structural Engineers 
City: London, UK 

Sitting alongside the new American Embassy on London’s South Bank, Embassy Gardens is the centrepiece of one of London’s biggest ever regeneration projects. Phase 2 of the project is delivering a total of almost 900 luxury apartments across three stunning 21-storey glazed towers, traditionally brick-faced to reflect the area’s industrial heritage.

Characterised by large modern balconies with views over the surrounding linear gardens and river beyond, the towers are linked together by a raised podium garden and feature a world-first transparent outdoor pool, 35 metres up, allowing residents to swim between the tenth floors of two towers.

Ancon STC Steel-to-Concrete Insulated Balcony Connectors have been chosen to securely connect over 1000 bolt-on steel balconies at London’s ground-breaking Embassy Gardens Phase 2 development. 

Architect, Reddy A+U, was keen to ensure that the large bolt-on steel balconies provided the buildings’ discerning occupants with a seamless extension to their high specification interior space, without the ‘bounce’ problems experienced with other, less rigid, bolt-on balcony fixings. The connector also had to meet the latest thermal efficiency and fire performance regulations.

As the two parts of the connector assembly, the cast-in anchorage and separate fixing bracket, would be installed at different stages of the build by different contractors, it was important that the components were fully compatible to eliminate potential fixing problems. 

Leviat's reputation and expertise in high performance structural fixings meant we were able to offer structural engineers, Walsh, the perfect solution.

1,300 Ancon STC20 Steel-to-Concrete Thermal Breaks were subsequently chosen as balcony fixings throughout the Phase 2 development because of their high connection strength and ability to provide optimum rigidity. Being manufactured from non-combustible components, the connectors achieved the fire rating needed for buildings above 18 storeys, as well as the required level of thermal protection, which swayed structural engineers, Walsh, to choose the Ancon STC system over other alternatives available.

The Ancon STC20 is a complete cast-in assembly supplied in two interconnecting parts - an anchorage, which is cast into the concrete frame, and an engineered bracket, which is not fixed until required by the installer. Being fully compatible, the two sections could be installed to tight tolerances by different contractors at different stages of the build without compromising performance. The non-combustible system also includes a steel faceplate, flush with the slab edge, to help minimise the possibility of damage to the installed assembly in the often-protracted period between slab casting and balcony installation.

Supply of the STC connectors was project managed by Leviat's dedicated reinforcement team and delivered to site to suit the construction schedule.