Repairs at Iconic Brutalist Building
Structural Renovations Limited were commissioned to carry out a concrete repair and corrosion control project within the fan shaped Brutalist structure, known as the Denys Wilkinson Building at the University of Oxford.
The Denys Wilkinson Building
A prominent landmark on Oxford’s Banbury Road, the Denys Wilkinson Accelerator Tower was designed in 1967 by Philip Dowson at Arup. Originally known as the ‘Nuclear Physics Laboratory’ but subsequently renamed in 2001, in honour of the British nuclear physicist Sir Denys Wilkinson.
The distinctive fan-shaped superstructure was built to house a Van de Graaff generator, architecturally marking "the arrival of the 'New Brutalism' in Oxford"1
Whilst the accelerator was decommissioned in 1997, the upper part of the tower has been converted for the Sub Department of Astrophysics into contemporary office space with picturesque views out over Oxford. Today the building is home to a much smaller Van de Graaff accelerator!2
Remedial Works on the Accelerator Tower
Originally completed in 1967, the building had not been maintained and required significant repairs to the roof structure of the accelerator tower, which had suffered from prolonged water ingress.
All defects were identified through a hammer test survey and thorough visual inspection, the original concrete was broken out back to a sound substrate and was square cut to depth of 10mm, thus preventing featheredging of the subsequent repair.
Exposed reinforcement was mechanically wire brushed, and prepared using high performing and sustainable products from Sika. Treated with Sika Monotop 1010; a bonding primer and corrosion protection, followed by the application of Sika Monotop 4012; a concrete repair mortar, to the original surface levels.
Future Proofing History
Due to the general condition of the reinforcement within the roof structure, a vapour phase corrosion inhibitor, (Sika Margel VPI capsules) were drilled and inserted inside the concretes’ structural elements at the required centres to the reinforcing steel.
This product is released over a period of 12- 48 months post remedial work, providing reinforcement protection at greater depths than surface applied Corrosion Inhibitors can penetrate.
The completed works will provide the treated elements of the structure with an extended service life, and arrest any ongoing corrosion.
References
Sherwood, Jennifer; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1974). The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire. Penguin Books. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-14-071045-8.
Manchester History - Denys Wilkinson Building, Banbury Road, Oxford University.