Successful modernization of Chappells Pharmacy, Crowborough, East Sussex

When a local pharmacy approached us about a full interior refurbishment, the brief was clear: create a modern, open-plan space that would transform the customer experience.

Newly renovated pharmacy interior showing modern design and layout

The existing building

The pharmacy occupied the ground floor of a mixed-use building, with two storeys of residential apartments sitting directly above. Like many high street retail units of its era, the interior had been converted from the original, historical building into a series of compartmentalised spaces — a cluttered retail floor broken up by dividing walls, a cramped dispensary area, and a back-of-house storage room that had become almost unusable.

The client's vision was to open everything up — to create a single, flowing retail and dispensary environment with a clean, contemporary feel. To achieve that, walls would need to come down. And not just any walls.

The structural challenge

The walls earmarked for removal were load-bearing. They were doing an important job: transferring the weight of the apartments above — floors, walls, furniture, and imposed loading — down into the foundations below. Remove them without a carefully engineered solution, and the consequences could be serious.

Our first task was a thorough structural assessment of the entire building. This meant understanding the existing load paths: tracing how loads travelled from the roof and upper floors, through the walls and columns, and into the ground. Only once we understood that picture in full could we design a solution that would safely redistribute those loads and enable the walls to be removed.

In addition, the ground floor had previously been converted partially and already featured a series of steel frames. The loading onto these frames had to be assessed also, and they needed to be temporarily supported during the construction works.

Our engineering solution

New Steelwork Frames

Steel frames were designed to support the vertical loads,, but also to re-instate the lateral stability of the building, which is affected when a substantial amount of masonry walls are removed.

Underpinning

Introducing new concentrated loads from the steel columns into the ground required new foundations capable of carrying them safely. This involved underpinning work — excavating below the existing floor slab to construct new reinforced concrete pad foundations beneath each column position. This work was carried out carefully and in a controlled sequence to ensure the building remained stable throughout construction.

Temporary Works

Before a single wall could be removed, a sequencing of works was established and information was provided so that the contractor could plan the required temporary works, to ensure the floors and apartments above were supported at every stage.

What this project demonstrates

Projects like this are a reminder that the most dramatic transformations are often the ones where the most significant work is not visible. The steel frames are hidden above the new ceiling. The underpinning is buried beneath the floor. The temporary works are long gone. What remains is a bright, welcoming space that gives no hint of the engineering complexity that made it possible.

If you are planning a commercial refurbishment that involves removing walls, changing layouts, or opening up existing spaces, we would encourage you to involve Monson Engineering from the very start. Understanding what your building is doing structurally — before any design proposals are undertaken — is the foundation of a successful project.