FAÇADE RETENTION IN CITY-CENTRE DEVELOPMENT

A presentation by Clifford Devlin

Façade retentionFaçade retention

The age and architectural significance of

many of the buildings involved in city-centre

projects require complex enabling work.

The design and installation of façade

retention schemes are increasingly being

used as a means of providing modern

accommodation for commercial and

industrial buildings whilst preserving the

external architectural features of historic and

attractive buildings in conservation areas

and city centres.

Clifford Devlin Limited Clifford Devlin Limited

As a specialist in complex city-centre

demolition we have delivered a number of

projects involving listed buildings where

some or all of the external elevations

needed to be retained to conserve the

historical character and continuity of the

area.

We therefore have considerable experience

of designing and installing façade retention

schemes and project managing the entire

process to integrate into the enabling phase.

The ProcessThe Process

1 Design & Approval

Working from architects plans and site

inspections our structural engineer will

design and document the façade retention

scheme.

This will consist of technical drawings, load

calculations, material specifications, and

other data which is submitted to the client’s

engineering team.

A detailed condition survey is carried out

prior to installation to record any existing

defects which are integrated into the final

project plan.

The ProcessThe Process

1 Design & Approval

For large or complex projects we typically

prepare a 3D schematic animation based

on photography and architects drawings

to illustrate the deconstruction

methodology to the project team..

The ProcessThe Process

3 Fabrication

As much of the structure as possible is

fabricated off-site to reduce installation time

on-site and minimise disruption to the busy

city-centre environment.

If piled foundations are required these will be

installed and the pile caps constructed

concurrently.

The ProcessThe Process

4 Installation

The main towers will be transported to site

on low loaders which will usually involve

road closures – we have extensive

experience of preparing an submitting traffic

management plans to TfL and City of

Westminster.

The ProcessThe Process

4 Installation

The structures are lifted into place using a

mobile or tower crane.

The ProcessThe Process

4 Installation

The main towers are connected using waling

beams and clamped to the retained structure

by connecting it to an inner waling beam

with tie rods.

The installation is fully tested and inspected

by the client’s engineers before demolition

commences.

The ProcessThe Process

5 Monitoring

We will inspect and monitor the integrity of

the façade structure throughout the

demolition and build phases by mapping a

series of fixed points on the structure using

laser range finding equipment.

Monitoring will be carried out typically on a

weekly basis and graphs of movement

prepared and compared against agreed

limits.

Our teamOur team

We work with a number of trusted specialist façade retention partners who are employed

by Clifford Devlin under our project management.

Structural Engineers

• Lucking & Clark (over ten years, 10 project some temp works schemes

• Michael Barclay Partnership (5 years, 6 projects)

Steel fabricators/installers

• Apex Steelworks (Crown House, Store Street)

• Graham Wood Structural (Tottenham Court Road)

Project portfolioProject portfolio

Crown House (Aldwych)

A ten-storey building in the heart of

Theatreland was developed into an

upgraded mixed-use development.

Three of its existing listed stone elevations

on Aldwych, Kingsway and Drury Lane

needed to be retained.

We designed a 60 metre eight storey

retention system to support the listed façade

throughout the works which took eight

weeks to fabricate and erect.

Value: £2.8m

Duration: 10 months

Architect: Sidell Gibson

Principal Contractor: ISG

Developer: UK and European Investments

Project portfolioProject portfolio

Crown House (Aldwych)

The structure was supported on piled

foundations due to the existence of a large

diameter service tunnel associated with the

former Victorian tram link.

We liaised extensively with Westminster

Council to obtain permission for temporary

road closures, traffic diversions and closure

of footpaths to enable the structure to be

delivered/erected.

Value: £2.8m

Duration: 10 months

Architect: Sidell Gibson

Principal Contractor: ISG

Developer: UK and European Investments

Project portfolioProject portfolio

227-233 Tottenham Court Road

A former grand retail and office building

dating back to end of the 19th Century

needed to be demolished to redevelop the

site into a prestigious retail and office

complex.

Being located in a ‘conservation area, the

buildings extensive ornate’ terracotta façade

was to be retained. A scheme was

developed, where the façade was supported

using a combination of part external

temporary steel support and by installing the

new steel frame within the structure, with

modifications to support the structure in the

temporary case during demolition. Value: £2.7m

Duration: 8 months

Principal Contractor: Costain

Project portfolioProject portfolio

227-233 Tottenham Court Road

This ensured the busy thoroughfare of

Tottenham Court Road was not restricted by

a heavy structural support and a substantial

part of the new foundations and structural

steel work were installed concurrently with

the demolition works.

Value: £2.7m

Duration: 8 months

Principal Contractor: Costain

Project portfolioProject portfolio

Barrett Street, London W1

The redevelopment of the flag ship store and

administrative headquarters of clothing chain

Reiss’ located in a street adjoining Oxford

Street required the demolition of existing

buildings on the site which had been

occupied by the London School of Fashion.

The original brick façade at the Picton Place

side was to remain and therefore required a

façade retention structure was installed to

provide lateral support to the façade during

the demolition and construction process.

Duration: 7 months

Value: £1.1m

Architect: Squire & Partners

Project Managers: Buro 4

Project portfolioProject portfolio

Barrett Street, London W1

Various temporary support structures to

retaining walls were required due to

extensive groundworks that were carried-out

to the foundations.

Temporary supports were provided to the

adjacent buildings to serve as protection

during the construction process.

Duration: 7 months

Value: £1.1m

Architect: Squire & Partners

Project Managers: Buro 4

FAÇADE RETENTION IN CITY-CENTRE DEVELOPMENT

A presentation by Clifford Devlin