SUSTAINABILITY

FEATURES
Lendlease worked with architects,
structural and civil engineers as well as
services consultants; HLM, Aecom/URS
and Hulley & Kirkwood respectively.
The internal works to the roof repairs
and slating happened simultaneously
and key to this was the careful
coordination of contractors to ensure
safe working was maintained.
The restored George III Coat of Arms © Lendlease
One of the major challenges on the
projec t was the urgent stabilisation
of the weather vane tower. On
inspec tion, the existing struc tural
timber frame was found to be
rot ten and needed to be suppor ted.
As a result, a scaf fold frame was
designed to provide the temporar y
suppor t and the struc tural engineer
designed a steel frame to provide a
permanent solution.
The timber structure had serious rot
and beetle infestation, which meant
that several of the main members
had to be removed or spliced. The
priority was to avoid interference with
the structural stability of the tower,
so each member was methodically
removed and supported. Several of the
main members had to be individually
cut and fitted onto a steel cradle built
around the existing timber structure.
This was followed by the installation
of timber diagonal struts between
the main posts and the careful
emplacement of all new timbers, so
as not to interfere with the structural
stability of the tower.
Meanwhile, work to repair rotten
ends to the existing roof trusses that
supported the decorative ceiling to
the Offcers’ Mess required meticulous
planning to ensure the ceiling below
was not disturbed. This involved
constructing a temporary unit beam
above the existing timber roof to
support each five-ton truss. Four of
the trusses were individually replaced,
with each one cut back to solid timber
and steel rods inserted. Treatment was
completed by ensuring the permanent
shutters (form work) were installed
around threaded steel rods and the
void filled with a special resin.
The brief also involved restoration
works to the façade, including the
repair of the existing Roman plaster
cornices on the south elevation and
the George III Coat of Arms, figures and
mouldings on the central triumphal
arch. Re-gilding the Coat of Arms
necessitated ongoing liaison with the
DIO clerk of works and Royal Scribe to
guarantee accuracy.
T he deliver y of the Woolwich
Sergeants’ and O f ficers’ Mess
refurbishment was achieved on
time and within budget. The
successful deliver y of the projec t
was due to ef fec tive cooperation
bet ween the projec t deliver y team,
subcontrac tors and their client, DIO.
T he handover, which took place
in July this year, marked the end
of building at Woolwich through
the Single Living Accommodation
Mo dule (SL AM) pro gramme. It has
been a privilege to deliver more
than 662 bed spaces in Woolwich for
the UK’s ser vice personnel.
Mark Norton
Project Manager
Woolwich Royal Artillery Barracks
The impressive Georgian façade restored © Lendlease
Sanctuary 44 • 2015
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