Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has marked another milestone in the above-ground construction of its new extension at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, with the installation of a bridge linking the existing premises with the site of what will become the new building, currently under construction alongside it.
Made from steel, the bridge is 30m (100ft) long, 4.4m (14ft) wide and 10m (32ft) high; it weighs just over 20 tonnes. Yet despite its size and weight, its ingenious design means the bridge appears to float in the air, just like the Home of Rolls-Royce’s other famous walkway, the Skywalk, which ‘floats’ above the marque’s production areas.
The new bridge was prefabricated off-site by a specialist metalworking company in Scotland and delivered to the Home of Rolls-Royce by road as a single assembly. This was a significant organisational and logistical challenge, especially on the narrow streets of rural West Sussex in the journey’s final stages.
The Rolls-Royce project team worked closely with transport, technical, and construction partners, as well as relevant authorities and the local community, to ensure the bridge arrived on time, in perfect condition, and with minimal disruption to residents and other road users.
The bridge, which has been carefully integrated into the existing building, is the first physical connection between the original premises that opened in 2003 and the site of the new 40,000 sq m (430,500 sq ft) building. Once complete, this new structure will house a new Surface Finish Centre (paint shop), as well as the latest equipment and production areas for Bespoke and Coachbuild commissions, and a Logistics area.
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