One of the most distinctive features of the scheme is the reinstatement of the historic dome that once crowned the Carliol House building - an architectural element that has been part of the city’s skyline for more than a century.

Recreating a Landmark

When the Grade II-listed Carliol House was scheduled for demolition and redevelopment in 2023, the design brief for the new building demanded that the dome be faithfully reconstructed. Traditionally, a feature of this scale and complexity would be formed using steel framing or a traditional timber build - a costly and time-intensive option.

In a bid to reduce build time and material cost while maintaining the character of the original structure, the project team looked to engineered timber trussed rafters for a solution.

DTE was approached by MGM Construction, who required a bespoke, efficient solution capable of capturing the dome’s unique geometry.

A Bespoke Engineering Challenge

Andrew Lee, General Manager at DTE Cramlington, explained: “We’ve designed a few oval buildings before, but designs such as this one only come round once every few years. Often a domed roof would be designed using steel framing, but the client was looking for ease of use and speed of construction, so the lightweight nature of engineered timber trusses was perfect for this project.”

The original roof - removed as part of the redevelopment - had been constructed using traditional timber methods, incorporating rafters, purlins, and oak beams. Reproducing this by hand in today’s market would have been prohibitively expensive. The architect needed a solution that could mirror the appearance of the historic dome without replicating the old-style traditional building methods.

Senior Design Technician John Collins led the roof design for DTE. “This was a completely bespoke design,” he said. “Standard roof trusses are obviously triangular, naturally forming peaks and troughs. Creating a smooth dome is something we’ve only done a handful of times.

“While it looks complicated, our process followed the same principles as any engineered timber roof. We modelled it in our software, accounted for factory production and on-site erection, and produced a fully engineered solution.”

Precision in Production and Installation

To meet the design brief, DTE manufactured 48 identical curved mono trusses that, when installed in sequence, recreated the dome’s geometry. The trusses were produced off-site at DTE’s Cramlington facility, then transported to Newcastle for a carefully coordinated installation.

Commenting on the spec, John explains: “The most interesting aspect of the design for this project was using trusses that were all exactly the same – this is quite unusual for us.”

Each truss served as one of 48 “spines” forming the dome. The on-site team positioned and aligned each element with millimetre accuracy before the structure was sheeted in plywood and finished with a lead covering to match the historic aesthetic.

Key to the success of the build was that the structure was supported from below by a concrete pad. Without that, a trussed solution simply wouldn’t have been viable. The concrete structure ensured the dome was fully supported and that the trusses were never under undue stress.

Despite its complexity, the roof structure was completed within five months.

A New Landmark for Newcastle

Spanning 463,000 sq ft across six to nine storeys, Pilgrim’s Quarter is the largest of HMRC’s 14 UK regional centres under the Government Hubs programme. Due for completion in 2025, it will serve as a major North East base for HM Revenue and Customs.

Beyond its role as a modern workplace, the reconstructed dome ensures the new structure retains a visual connection to its past. With its combination of heritage sensitivity and modern engineering, Pilgrim’s Quarter is set to become a defining landmark within Newcastle’s rapidly evolving cityscape.

If you would like to find out more about how DTE can help with your project, contact your local sales team.