A 1930s building off Piccadilly Circus has been transformed into 48 luxury apartments by The Crown Estate.

Key Challenges

• Replacement steel windows to retained façade – slimline glazing adapted for inclusion of doors
• Complex interfacing on rear elevations with numerous trades
• Logistically tight and challenging delivery methodology with many site constraints

The Brief

Employed directly by The Crown Estate under a CM contract, Colorminium were tasked with the detailed design, manufacture and installation of the façade glazing and internal atrium glazing. Working closely with the construction managers and client team, the challenging design required a competent specialist to make the vision a reality.

Our Approach

The existing street facing facades were retained and renovated with all existing windows replaced. Due to planning restrictions and the historic façade, a slimline steel system was used for these areas which required considerable adaption to meet the intent at terrace levels for the incorporation of large doorsets without compromising performance. Extensive surveying and condition reports were required from Colorminium to ensure the incorporation of new elements into the existing structure was seamless.

With the retention of the street facades, but extensive re-modelling behind this, the rear elevations were more contemporary and an aluminium sliding door system was used for the glazed aspects. A concrete frame with lightweight steel framing as the slab infills forms the openings for the glazing which is then framed with terracotta once installed.

Within the central lightwell, fire-rated glazed modules were installed into steel framing again but this time framed with timber cladding. Due to the timber cladding, the fire-rated line runs behind this maintaining the integrity of the system.

The Result

Quadrant 4 now fully complete, is highly distinctive in design and was engineered to a level of quality that has become a hallmark of The Crown Estate’s development.