Issue 46 April 25 web - Flipbook - Page 40
Two SWA members
join forces at County
Hall, London
Steel Window Association members, Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) and Steel Window
Fittings (SWF) brought their individual expertise together while working on the County Hall project.
Building on its 30-year long association with the former
GLC headquarters on the south bank of the Thames,
ASWS has provided its unique skillset to a company carrying out an equally unusual style of redevelopment
within the property’s long neglected top floor level.
ASWS carried out a comprehensive, yet carefully considered repair and replacement contract at County Hall.
“Rather than gutting out the 5th floor, the old parquet
floor was cleaned and preserved while many wall areas
were left bare. For the fenestration, new handles were
fixed to the original back-plates, while we designed new
blocks which were fitted to the heads, for the spring
catches to engage with. Any broken panes were replaced
and all of the hinges reset to ensure ease of operation.”
Level 5 of County Hall had actually been empty since
1994, with little maintenance carried out and a number
of the dormer window structures having been boarded up
or infilled with brickwork for the past two decades. Following its completion of a detailed condition survey on
behalf of the project consultants, ASWS was duly tasked
with repairing and easing a total of 134 faceted bay
windows, many of which had suffered heavy corrosion.
Kris Bennell concluded, “This is one of the very first
contracts of its type in the country, where interventions
have been kept to an absolute minimum - based on
sustainability and environmental impact rather than cost
- and we have been very proud to be involved.”
Director of ASWS, Kris Bennell, recounted, “The original
windows featured Medium Universal suite steel frames,
so for the 11 which had to be reinstated we produced
close replicas using W20 sections; though across the job
as a whole we were asked to provide a ‘light touch’ restoration. This is very much the ethos of the client which is
committed to providing sustainable workspaces; as
well as offering help with issues such as funding and
recruitment.”
James Barrett, from Steel Window Fittings, said, “It was
fantastic to see our hardware in-situ on such a prestigious
building. The B205N09F is a unique window handle with
a sleek, curving lever that complements the Edwardian
baroque architecture.”
Below, County Hall, level 5
