Structural design and construction of Owen Williams’ Boots D10 Factory (1930–32)

The Boots D10 Packed Wet Goods Factory was designed by engineer Owen Williams and has been recognised with Grade I heritage status. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the role of flat slab and mushroom column head structures in the project’s architectural expression, the building’s actual structural design and construction details have been mostly overlooked in existing studies. This work offers the first examination of the building’s structure and construction using original archival plans and structural engineering modelling. Archival materials are compared to relevant historical construction codes and guidelines, and with subsequent modelling efforts, lead to several novel insights. Archival plans and modelling results reveal how the building was not designed or reinforced as a conventional flat slab structure. Detailed comparisons between archival plans and various historical approaches show how the building is more of a hybrid structure, involving an overlay of flat slabs in one direction and reinforced concrete frames in the other. Beyond providing enhanced shear resistance, the multifaceted structural benefits of combining flat slab and mushroom column head construction are highlighted, with relevant lessons for contemporary structural engineering. Together, these insights finally emphasise the building’s structure and construction as a landmark work of engineering history and heritage.