141 Wardour Street
Wardour Street in London’s West End was historically known as London’s ‘Film Row’ with the street’s connection to the film industry starting at the turn of the C20th.
By the early 1920s over 40 film companies had set up shop here. Fast forward to the 1930s and Warner Brothers moved into 141 Wardour Street. Now this building is set to star in its own (refurbishment) show.
Professional Team:
St James's Place PLC / Quartz
Programme duration:
10 weeks
Value:
Up to £750k
In summary
Photographic condition, building services and asbestos surveys
Isolation of services and installation of temporary services
Strip out back to shell incl. removal of MEP in line with specification
Removal of roof level plant (incl. crane lifts)
Removal of arisings
Opening up works
Take One
Enabling works at this 1930s, mixed-use building marked General Demolition’s first project on Wardour Street. The 33,700sqft building was to be stripped back to shell behind a retained façade. Subsequent planning approval will provide best-in-class office space and restaurant accommodation.
The project
Scripting the strip out works to this 8-storey building was relatively straightforward. Directing it was slightly trickier.
Cameos
The site’s Soho location meant that the public was never far away from our operations. Spot-on logistics were essential and included the use of additional banksmen and traffic marshals to ensure that the public was kept safe as our lorries successfully navigated the narrow streets around our set.
Stunts
The substantial plant at roof level had to be safely removed. Going through the building was not an option so we had to come down the outside. With a weekend chosen, a perimeter set and camera phones rolling (not joking!), cranes were brought in to do the heavy lifting. Not satisfied with the first take, we did a repeat the following weekend.
Extras
Once the strip out was complete, structural investigations were undertaken as an additional package of works. This included the breaking out of concrete, floor and ceiling finishes across several floors in advance of planning approval being sought.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
On location
The building’s prominent position in the heart of Soho was always going to impact the removal of arisings and the British weather did not help as our stage was being set.
After a brief pause, a scaffold gantry was installed to the front side of the building with internal access ramps built up to be level with the window openings.
The glazing, to be refitted post programme, was carefully removed, protected and stored for the duration of our works. Arisings were then discharged into HGV containers on a wait and load basis only, before vehicles were sheeted over and directed off site.