Northgate Dental Practice, 2 – 4, Northgate Street, Chester.

New build construction of a three storey high, Falzinc roofed and aluminium curtain walled extension, built off the footprint of an existing four metre high retaining structure, adjacent to a MANWEB substation and situated alongside the Shropshire Union canal.

Formation level of the extension was two metres below street level, with access to the rear elevation site over a series of loading platforms leading down to the canal side substation – which also required twenty four hour clear access.

The works were further complicated by underground drainage from adjacent buildings running through the site and by old stone culverts within the retaining structure, which necessitated a Archaeological watch during the ground works.

With a busy City Centre bus route running along the front of the site, Highways permission was required for the site hoarding and two road closures to enable the concrete slab pour and structural steelwork offload operations to be undertaken.

The existing terraced building spanned two separate properties, which were opened up at basement and lower ground floor levels, and refurbished to form storage rooms, five specialist dental treatment rooms, X-ray, W.C. facilities, reception and waiting areas.  A passenger lift was installed on the front elevation for wheelchair access from pavement level to lower ground floor.

The new extension provides staff welfare facilities at lower first floor level, and disabled W.C,  tea room and waiting room at lower ground floor level.  The feature staircase rises up to the upper ground floor balcony.