Tabernacle Street

Top down demolition and enabling works package on a large 4 storey 1970’s-era building in one of London’s most densely-populated districts, Shoreditch, which was previously occupied by the Financial Times, to provide Grade A office space.

With the existing structure abutting three neighbouring properties, which remained fully occupied, demolition posed somewhat of a challenge for the team, as narrow streets surrounding the site also meant access was extremely limited.

To get around this, a 47-tonne Komatsu high reach excavator fitted with hydraulic jaws to pulverise the reinforced concrete frame and floor slabs was used for demolition, with smaller machines used on the more sensitive areas next to adjacent buildings. To facilitate use of the high-reach excavator at the rear of the building, 1,000 temporary props were installed in the double-height basement to support the slab.

With tight logistics surrounding the perimeter of the site, conveying plant and materials to and from the site was a major challenge; excavators were off-loaded in the street and tracked into the building. To prevent damage to existing road surfaces, O’Keefe laid down a protective plywood mat along the route taken by the excavator.

Hoarding and acoustic barriers were installed to minimise the disturbance to all neighbouring properties. To the rear elevation of the site, a housing association building containing 20 flats that were built as part of the original development, remained occupied throughout the redevelopment.

• Contract: Tabernacle Street
• Client: The Max Barney Estate
• Location: Shoreditch, EC2A
• Value: £1.2m
• Duration: 24 weeks
• BREEAM RATING: Excellent
• Scope: Soft Strip, Enabling Works, Asbestos Removal, Top Down Demolition