A view of Bridges Hall, a 'Sectra' built hall of residence, on the Whiteknights Campus at the University of Reading, showing two female students walking past

Date:: 19 Sep 1966

Location:: University of Reading, Bridges Hall, Earley, Whiteknights Campus, Wokingham

Reference:: JLP01/08/074661

Type:: Photograph (Negative)

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Description

At the time this photograph was taken Laing had built two halls of residence using the 'Sectra' system for the University of Reading and a third was underway. Work had started on the site on 31st December 1964 and by October 1966 two of the halls had opened, accommodating 302 students. One of the halls was for men and was named Childs Hall and the other was for women and was named Bridges Hall.

'Sectra’ was a French prefabricated steel formwork design for flats which John Laing and Son Ltd acquired the British rights to in 1962. It was a method of using precision made steel formwork for the placing of structural concrete in 'tunnel' sections in room unit widths and ceiling heights. The units were bolted together in rows on special tracks, with the concrete poured to form the walls and floors in one operation. The formwork was internally heated to accelerate the hardening of the concrete in the mould and the sections were then lifted into position by a tower crane on the construction site.

This image was catalogued as part of the Breaking New Ground Project in partnership with the John Laing Charitable Trust in 2019-20.

Content

This is part of the Series: JLP01/08 John Laing Photographic Collection Black and White Negatives; within the Collection: JLP01 John Laing Photographic Collection

Rights

Keywords

Mid 20th Century Hall Of Residence, People