This project presented two main challenges, firstly there was no access to the rear of the building without damaging the Grade I listed building and Grade II listed gardens, resulting in all construction plant, materials, spoil and the like being hoisted around the building using a 350 tonne crane which enabled the garden to remain undamaged and unaffected by the works.
Secondly, the client had very specific time constraints, so as not to impact on their business. The hotel was closed during this major project, requiring the work to be completed in 18 weeks with a countdown for the hotel to re-open on the client’s website. The solution to this was the use of off-site production methods for the concrete basement and ground floor, and early ordering of the glazing and steel frame from detailed production drawings thus reducing the duration of work on site.
The basement was constructed using pre-cast waterproof concrete wall panels, lifted around the existing building and inserted into position. A new steel structure supported pre-cast wide-span floor panels with a bespoke glass facade to the restaurant, pre-measured with tight tolerances to precisely fit the constructed steel frame.
The project was carried out in one of the worst winters we have seen for some time. Pilbeam’s managed to design out weather issues and reduce the duration of the works on-site by using off-site manufacturing. This allowed us to be less reliant on weather conditions as off-site works were not affected by the adverse weather conditions.