Morrissey Engineers

Morrissey Engineers moved offices today. Please note our new physical address is Unit 9, 72 Old Main Road, Kloof

Some times the very small projects are the most fun to do! New poolside pavillion at House P completed in 2019.

Architects: Sphere Design
Consulting Engineers: Morrissey Engineers
Contractor: Bear Projects

House D
Completed in 2020

Architects: Sphere Design
Consulting civil & structural engineers: Morrissey Engineers
Contractor: Bear Projects

Sovereign Foods Uitenhage water recovery plant project for Talbot & Talbot progressing well.
Morrissey Engineers provided sub-consulting structural engineering services to principal consulting engineers: Proffcon (Pty) Ltd

New Water Recovery Plant for Sovereign Foods in Uitenhage Eastern Cape. Morrissey Engineers provided sub-consulting structural engineering services to principal consulting engineers Proffcon (Pty) Ltd. Client: Talbot & Talbot

Beautiful off shutter concrete work being done by our contractor R&I Construction for Synergy Blenders at Dube Tradeport King Shaka Airport. Such a pleasure to work with contractors that take pride in their work!

Hammarsdale Shopping Centre recently completed

The power of modern 3D design software...from Tekla model to final on-site construction! New signage board structural support frame being erected

My trusty old HP 42S RPN Scientific calculator still going strong after purchasing it way back in 1989 as a young structural engineer. I am probably old school still doing hand calculations but the feel for numbers when designing structures using hand calculators and written calculations is the essence of understanding structural systems as opposed to over reliance on modern software design tools.

I am sure you will have noticed on TV the wonderful building called the Westminster Hall where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is presently Lying-in-state. The timber roof is called type "hammer-beam" roof and was ground-breaking technology for its time in terms of the clear span it provided over the hall.
The magnificent hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall is the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe. Measuring 20.7 by 73.2 metres (68 by 240 feet), the roof was commissioned in 1393 by Richard II, and is a masterpiece of design.

Chief mason
The work was largely undertaken by the King's chief mason Henry Yevele and the carpenter Hugh Herland. Yevele had been involved in nearly all the great building projects of the late 14th century, such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral. He also built the Jewel Tower in 1365-66.

The roof's features
In redesigning the roof, Herland fashioned great oak beams to serve as horizontal supports fixed to the walls (which Yevele strengthened by massive buttresses). Wooden arches joined to the top of these beams met centrally in a span of 18 metres (60 feet) or more.

Onto these arches the craftsmen built the slopes of the roof, with its weight borne by the hammer-beams supported in their turn by the buttressed walls.

Complex and dangerous
The construction of the roof was an exceedingly complex and dangerous operation, given the size and weight of the timber and the great heights they had to be lifted to (about 28 metres, or 92 feet). But the result, as we see it after nearly 600 years, is a vast, clear space unobstructed by a single column.

The roof's timberwork was entirely framed near Farnham in Surrey. A large number of wagons and barges delivered the jointed timbers to Westminster, weighing some 660 tons, for assembly.

The money for this project was raised by compelling those who had fled or been banished from the country, and wished to return to their native soil, to purchase a licence for that purpose for a considerable sum.

Lanterns on the roof
Two great lanterns on the ridge of the roof (to let smoke out and light and air in) were completed in 1397-98. The process of finishing the roof, including the decorative tracery, took somewhat longer, and was not quite complete when work stopped in 1401.

Outside, the roof was covered with lead, weighing about 176 tons.

Hammarsdale Shopping Centre - latest photos of progress on site. Phase 2 in full swing
Developer: Comdev property Group
Architect: SLD Architects
Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers: Morrissey Engineers

12 years ago we were appointed by Kloof SPCA to upgrade their road access over a stream with undersized and damaged storm water pipes. New precast concrete culverts were designed and installed on a new RC base slab with Gabion baskets and Reno mattresses protecting the entrance and exit of the culverts during flooding. I went to inspect the culvert and road access this afternoon after the horrific floods we experienced last week on 12 April when over 400mm rainfall fell within 24hours. It was a wonderful to see there had been hardly any damage done to the culvert or the embankments. Due to the enormous amount of rain in this catchment area, the water had flooded over the road top but the Gabion baskets on the road edges had provided the protection from erosion. The SPCA has a vital role in protecting the well being of our animal community and if this road had been washed away it would have seriously impacted their ability to respond to the flood disaster. This road upgrade has been a great investment. We were fortunate to have a great civil contractor to do the project and the high quality of work has paid dividends after these recent floods.

Hammarsdale shopping Centre. Roof trusses, purlins and roof sheeting being installed for anchor tenant Shoprite Checkers.

RC foundations and columns being constructed for new shopping centre in Hammarsdale KwaZulu-Natal.
Client: Comdev Group
Architect: SLD Architects
Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers: Morrissey Engineers (Pty) Ltd

Great progress for major upgrade to Italtile Umhlanga showing architects 3D perspective and site progress. Architects: MWPArchirects Contractor: Betts Construction

Closing up roof structure for New Tyre Dealership in Nongoma Zululand

Client: John Steven Carter
Architect: SLD Architects
Consulting Engineers: Morrissey Engineers (Pty) Ltd
Contractor: Ric-Hansen Projects cc

House Dixon recently completed in Cotswold Down Estate Hillcrest. Morrissey Engineers provided consulting structural engineering services.

Great progress happening at Prasa Isipingo retail development

Apex Private Hospital Soweto final roof ring beams being constructed

Prasa Isipingo Retail Development starting level 2 precast Ecoh slabs.