RADIX Screw Pile Foundations for Modular Buildings – University of Portsmouth, City Centre

Overview

Delivering foundations in a live urban environment with restricted access

Located just outside a main building at the University of Portsmouth, this project required the installation of foundations for modular rooms within a busy city centre setting. The site was heavily constrained, surrounded by active pedestrian routes, road traffic, and existing infrastructure, including newly poured concrete pads that could not be disturbed.

Ground conditions were complex, consisting of made ground with old brick fragments and rubble beneath the surface. These conditions introduced challenges during installation, particularly around maintaining pile alignment and structural integrity.

RADIX was appointed by Sudlows to deliver a foundation solution that could be installed quickly, safely, and with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment.

Solution

Controlled installation through difficult ground and tight urban constraints

Using an 8-ton tracked machine, a four-person team completed the works over four days, installing piles and supporting steel beams for the modular structures.

The primary technical challenge was subsurface obstruction and deflection, caused by buried brickwork and rubble. When pile tips encountered these obstructions, maintaining verticality and load-bearing performance required careful control. RADIX applied established installation techniques to correct alignment without compromising structural integrity, ensuring each pile achieved the required performance.

The use of screw piles allowed RADIX to navigate these constraints effectively. Lightweight machinery reduced the risk of damaging surrounding structures, while the small footprint enabled installation in areas inaccessible to traditional plant or pre-cast systems.

The result was a fast, precise installation that integrated seamlessly with the modular building programme.

Sustainability & Environmental Benefits

Low-disruption foundations suited to dense urban environments

In a busy city centre location, minimising disruption is as important as structural performance. RADIX’s screw pile solution delivered clear advantages:

• Reduced vehicle movements, limiting congestion and disruption to pedestrians and traffic
• No excavation or spoil removal, avoiding additional transport and site handling
• Lightweight installation equipment, reducing impact on surrounding surfaces and structures
• Immediate load-bearing capability, allowing rapid progression of modular installation

Compared to alternative foundation methods such as driven piling or pre-cast concrete, screw piling enabled installation within a confined space without the need for large cranes, heavy deliveries, or extensive groundworks.

This approach ensured the project could be delivered efficiently while maintaining safety, protecting existing infrastructure, and minimising disruption in a live urban setting.