John F Hunt Demolition Group

Case Studies

Case Study 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 :: Triumph House, Regent Street, London

The Job

Demolition of two independent but adjacent structures – one a 5 storey RC building and the other an 8 storey steel frame building fronting Regent Street and requiring extensive temporary works to uphold the listed front Façade and basement retaining walls.

The works

The complexity of the structures resulted in a requirement to secure no less than forty-six separate Party Wall Awards. Therefore not only had we to accommodate a wide range of demands placed upon us by the various adjoining owners, but also those of Westminster City Council, who were ever mindful of the needs of the general public and tourists that frequent this internationally renown part of London.
Demolition consisted of two separate buildings being taken down to the top of the existing basement slab whilst retaining the listed stone façade and basement retaining walls.

The works was complicated by the various lines of the party wall which required different degrees of demolition according to the original construction details.

Three floors of each building were back-propped concurrently to facilitate the use of only the 6 tonne machines that could carry effective cracking attachments.

The works involved installing a structural steel façade support system, including bored piles, through the Regent Street pavement, erecting 26m long flying shores at 6th,5th and 2nd floor levels that spanned between the two adjoining buildings and salvaging the decorative lead sculpture on top of the façade.

At the junction of the two buildings and for the duration of the works, the site was bisected by a 20m long structural crash-deck, erected to maintain safe access to the adjoining owners existing fire escape and an LEB substation.

Environment

To minimise noise and disturbance whilst demolishing the rear RC structure no percussive hammers were used whatsoever. The machines were fitted with high performance NPK concrete cracking attachments specially purchased for the job and flexibility of working was placed under the most intense levels of scrutiny.

Dust control was also paramount to the projects success. Water was pumped to each working level and the most exacting standard of inspection was paid to the integrity of the Monarflex sheeting enclosing the work.

Delivery of Services

The main demolition contract was completed within the 26-week programme and £960k budget. Subsequently under a new order and extended programme we were awarded additional enabling works in relation to the party walls to facilitate readiness for the main contractor..