Mainmark recognised for work on tallest purpose-built student accommodation

UK ground engineering specialist Mainmark has been shortlisted for a major industry accolade.

Mainmark has been shortlisted for the “UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of up to £500K’’ category which recognises leading projects with a focus on innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety and value engineering.

The annual Ground Engineering Awards brings together leaders in the industry to celebrate major achievements. This year’s awards will be held at a prestigious event on 19 June at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Mainmark’s shortlisted project highlights its work on the construction of the 43-storey tower, Arena Point in Leeds, set to be the world’s tallest purpose-built student accommodation. The £95m project on Merrion Way features over 700 bedrooms, with a mix of studio apartments and shared cluster flats, replacing a previously underutilised office block.

The construction was halted due to unstable ground, and was only able to progress thanks to the expertise of Mainmark who successfully strengthened the ground prior to excavation using its innovative Teretek® geopolymer resin injection technology. Mainmark’s Teretek engineered resin injection technology solution was chosen to strengthen the ground in a controlled and timely manner. With the proximity of nearby buildings, infrastructure and the restricted site traditional piling and ground anchor techniques were unsuitable for the specific challenge.

Teretek® technology, developed by Mainmark, was injected at high-density levels to fill any voids, compact the ground and bind together large cobbles and brick fragments. It was completed in just 10 days, without the need for heavy plant, allowing the construction to continue as scheduled.

Tom Kavanagh, General Manager at Mainmark UK, comments: “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award, it showcases the passion, skill and expertise that our team puts into developing new solutions, allowing the sector to better tackle site specific challenges.

“We take great pride in not just meeting but exceeding our clients’ expectations and enabling the Arena Point construction to progress as planned is just one great example of where are dedication to formulating new solutions has been a success.”

Mainmark has previously been recognised for its work with the post-earthquake resurrection of the Christchurch Art Gallery which won International Project of the Year. Chosen from seven high calibre of finalists, the re-levelling of the gallery was a landmark project for Mainmark and the industry, setting a new benchmark in the earthquake remediation for large scale buildings.

Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Mainmark group of companies established in 2016, with its headquarters located in Milton Keynes. For over three decades, Mainmark has established itself as a pioneering force in the industry, leading the way in developing and delivering cutting-edge ground improvement solutions. With an impressive track record of over 200,000 successful projects across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the UK, Mainmark has earned international recognition as an award-winning and leading ground engineer.