Café Royal Redevelopment Site Visit 07-12-09

Year 10 and Year 11 students interested in the construction industry were lucky enough to gain access to one of most prestigious construction projects currently underway in London.

Tim Laker from Jackson Rowe Associates who had previously given a talk in school on the redevelopment of the Café Royal site in Regent Street and various career opportunities available in the construction industry, was able to arrange, via Erith Contractors and the Mace Group, a guided tour of the site.

The location has been referred to as “the most important architectural statement in Regent Street” and the project includes retaining the façade, renovating the listed interiors as well as creating a 160 bedroom five star hotel, offices, retail space and restaurants.

At the time of the tour the contractors were involved in the demolition and safe removal of asbestos from the site and the students were able to observe the way this complex operation is undertaken. Starting in the basement where spa facilities will be located, there are extensive modifications taking place and it was interesting to see how the contractors have to deal with this whilst at the same time as protecting the areas of special interest.

In another part of the site the students were able to see where two floors will be removed and additional floors will be inserted, where piling and foundation strengthening will take place to support the new building and the structures in position to support the façade whilst all the work is going on.

Equally fascinating was to then go through to a protected area, away from the demolition to see the historic rooms that are being painstakingly restored by a specialist restoration team. They will be carefully renovating rooms which will be converted into large VIP suites, the marble entrance hall, the Grill Room and Domino Room and the reinstating of the original Ten Room as a new double height entrance foyer.

Everyone marvelled at the amount of work that has to be completed by the end of 2011. It certainly was an excellent insight into the co-ordination and diverse roles required to create a project, especially one as prestigious as this.

LOGS students would like to thank Tim Laker of Jackson Rowe Associates - www.jackson-rowe.com and Paul Toal and his colleagues of Erith Contractors - www.erith-group.co.uk for their time and making this fascinating tour possible