London Eye

London, UK

Project synopsis

Design of temporary and permanent substructure, ferry brows and marine works

Contractor

Tilbury Douglas

End client

The Millennium Wheel Company

Awards

Institution of Structural Engineers Special Award 2001

Tony Gee won the design contract for the wheel foundation, brows and temporary foundation, as part of a design and build contract.

Map of the UK showing where Blackfriars Station is

We were also retained to design and specify the landscaping and hard surfacing of the grounds around the Eye.

What made the foundation works particularly important was that the erection scheme (to assemble the wheel horizontally over the Thames) would impose enormous forces on the foundation, as the wheel was reared up to its operational position.

Our expertise in producing innovative engineering solutions, often in congested urban areas, was put to use and a fast-track approach developed, to ensure early completion and cost certainty for our client.