Project Spring

Overview

The project involved the separation of two buildings to form two separate demises. Works entailed the successful removal of bridges between the two structure

Scope

The London headquarters of Bank of America comprised of their Main Building and the West Building, linked by bridges on three levels. In order to return the West Building to the landlord whilst retaining the Main Building, BAO required the demolition of said bridges and the implementation of stand-alone systems for each building.

A full list of works is outlined as follows:

Design and erection of 600 tons of non-tied scaffolding;
Works undertaken directly over a scheduled ancient monument approximately 600mm below the operational site;
Relocation and retermination of high voltage cables circa 11kv;
Design, supply and installation of new bespoke façade finishes to fit within a historically important façade;
Decommission and installation of new fire alarm and sprinkler systems;
All works undertaken with minimal disruption to building occupiers within the heart of the city of London.

Challenges & Solutions

The project encountered numerous challenges due to its central location and connection to a live office building. The site was situated on top of a protected historical monument, which restricted the load to no more than 1 ton per square meter. To address this, a crane system capable of lifting 10 tons without exceeding the pressure limit was designed and installed. Additionally, demolition work had to be carefully managed around active data communication cables, necessitating the implementation of protective measures to allow work to proceed safely.

The proximity to occupied buildings and the main office building further complicated the project. Major works were scheduled for Saturdays, and the on-site team collaborated closely with the local council and Bank of America to agree on suitable variations to site hours. The 21-year-old façade, originally manufactured by a now-defunct contractor, required the expertise of construction cosmetic specialists to match the new windows to the existing façade. Panels were affixed to each elevation to conceal the scaffolding and ensure it blended seamlessly with its surroundings.