This large prestige development in the heart of central London was logistically challenging, yet Prater maintained quality workmanship throughout the project. It won the Masitic Asphalt/ Hot Melt category at the Roofing Awards 2017.
Located in central London’s East Marylebone Conservation Area, Fitzroy Place is a mixed-use scheme developed by Exemplar on the site of the Edwardian Middlesex Hospital. The façade was retained on one side of the development, with the hospital’s Grade II listed chapel located in its centre.
The scheme comprises office space, apartments, shops and restaurants built around a landscaped square. 1 Fitzroy Place includes 235 private apartments, 1,858 sqm of retail space, and 20,438 sqm of office space. 2 Fitzroy Place is the UK and Ireland Headquarters for Estée Lauder. The developments also has three residential blocks.
Complexity
Prater was appointed to carry out the inverted hot melt roofing elements by main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine. To ensure good weathertightness and integrity of the building, the design details had to be developed and worked up in close collaboration with the architects and Radmat, the supplier of the roofing products.
The challenges
The scheme’s buildings were developed concurrently, which made the project logistically challenging, particularly in terms of the distribution of materials on site to areas such as the balconies on the residential buildings. This, for example, involved the use of hoists through floors where internal finishes were being installed. Also, the speed of the build meant that design details had to be developed in a way that accommodated a changing and fluid programme, while complex sequencing and co-ordination with other contractors was required throughout the project.
Workmanship
Radmat’s PermaQuik PQ6100 Hot Melt system was applied to a concrete deck, together with the associated green roofing and paving finishes. The system is BBA Certified to last the life of the building and high specification finish reflected the standards required for each stage of the build, including the roofing works.
Prater undertook all design detailing – verified by Radmat – to ensure that the most appropriate and efficient design solution was developed. Highly-trained Prater operatives completed the works to the exacting standards of Radmat, with a strict Inspection and test plan in place throughout the build. This involved rigorous snagging and checking for quality by both Prater management and Radmat, which made regular site visits and enabled work to be sign off for warranty purposes.
PermaQuik hot melt was also used as the waterproofing protection beneath the green roof finish on the residential blocks’ main roof areas. The team, therefore worked closely with trained horticulturists to achieve the correct green roof finish. PermaQuik hot melt waterproofing was also applied to the balcony areas, with the ProTherm insulation installed directly over it and finished off with a high-quality granite slab.
Prater says
“Fitzroy Place is a unique collection of prestigious new homes, enticing stores, restaurants and high-quality office space, which were constructed at the same time, making it a logistically challenging project. Nevertheless Prater maintained neat and accurate workmanship throughout, which has been acknowledged by the main contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine”
About Prater
Prater is the UK’s leading specialist building envelope contractor, a single source supplier capable of providing complete solutions from design and planning to manufacture and installation.
At a glance
- Client: Exemplar
- Architects: Sheppard Robson and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
- Main Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine
- Roofing Contractor: Prater
- Building Type: Mixed-use
- Location: Gatwick Airport
- Completion: 2016
- Roof Type: Mastic Asphalt / Hot Melt
- Finish: Radmat PermaQuik PQ6100 hot melt
- Insulation: Radmat ProTherm
- Underlay: ProTherm XENERGY MinK
- Battens: Blumson Yellow Balau timber decking
