No3. Circle Square

No3. Circle Square stands as a bold example of contemporary architecture that both reflects and elevates its industrial heritage. Designed by Bridge Architects, the building delivers a high-spec, future-focused workspace while celebrating the crafted character of the surrounding neighbourhood. Built by GMI Construction Group, with specialist brickwork by Kinlan Brickwork, the project showcases the powerful results achievable through collaboration, precision, and material expertise.

IG Masonry Support partnered with GMI Construction Group to provide a fully bespoke package of masonry support and prefabricated brick slip solutions. Each system played a key role in realising the building’s distinctive façade, accommodating a large handmade Thirkleby – Handmade Texture – York Hand Made Brick. Across the project, IG Masonry Support supplied more than 1,750 m of Welded Masonry Support, 2,023 m of A1 Brick Slip Lintels, and 237 m of B.O.S.S. A1 (Brick on Soffit System) units, as well as a wide range of accessories, including Reveal Support Plates, Top Hats, and fixings.

The façade design introduced a wide range of technical and structural complexities. Large structural openings had to be supported despite tight slab conditions, while recessed brick details and heavy feature-stone elements demanded careful load distribution and high precision. These constraints became even more pronounced at the top-floor terrace, where the soffit’s distinctive cross-shaped geometry required exceptional attention to detailing, particularly when working with the larger-format handmade brick specified for the project.

Hybrid fixing conditions posed additional challenges. Several masonry support units required four fixings spread across both concrete and steel substrates, with the potential to making structural checks and installation sequencing complicated. Variations in the slab and limited edge distances, caused by shuttering tolerances, required bespoke solutions including resin anchors, specialised bolts, and sloped shims to achieve stable and accurate fixing points.

Finally, the pier units along the façade interfaced directly with an adjacent steel-frame building. With extremely tight cavity spacing between the two structures, even minor deviations risked causing clashes. This demanded exacting coordination, precise setting-out, and complete alignment across all interfacing components.

To meet the project’s demanding technical brief, IG Masonry Support worked collaboratively with the contractor and design team to develop a suite of bespoke systems and coordinated details.

For the large structural openings and constrained slab conditions, Welded Masonry Support Systems were engineered to deliver robust load-bearing performance while maintaining the required appearance of the recessed brick features and heavy stone elements. Extended Folded Angle shelves were designed for window zones, combining support for window cills with the hit-and-miss brickwork panels that form part of the building’s visual identity.

At the top-floor terrace, B.O.S.S. A1 units created the striking cross-junction soffit detail. These prefabricated panels were designed to interlock seamlessly, allowing the stretcher-course bond and deep soffit returns to continue uninterrupted along each terrace elevation. Long, narrow units ensured that the soffit geometry remained consistent, even across the complex intersections.

Further soffit details were realised for 740 openings, spanning between 2.5 m and 3.02 m, using A1 Brick Slip Lintels. The A1 fire-rated systems were designed to suit a stretcher bond pattern and enabled efficient

Hybrid fixing challenges were resolved by engineering systems that could engage both concrete and steel substrates within the same masonry support unit. Each solution underwent rigorous checks by IG Masonry Support’s in-house Structural Engineers to validate load capacity and installation practicality. In areas with inconsistent slab edges or limited fixing distances, bespoke resin anchors, high-strength bolts, and sloped shims ensured secure installation despite the irregular substrate conditions.

Coordination with the adjacent steel-frame building was achieved by mapping cavity tolerances and alignment in advance. The design team established a precise installation strategy that prevented clashes and ensured a continuous, uninterrupted façade.

Together, these integrated solutions delivered a high-performance masonry support package that met the architectural ambitions of No3. Circle Square.