Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) has taken its working relationship with Erith Contractors to a new level, while demonstrating its skills in working on all types of architectural metalwork. This was done through its involvement with the painstaking dismantling and restoration of an ornate copper clad canopy, which adorns the main elevation to the old Olympia building in London’s Kensington.
ASWS has worked with Erith on a number of projects in recent years, including assisting with enablement work on projects such as 120 Fleet Street and the Whiteleys Shopping Centre in West London. ASWS has become the demolition specialist’s go-to partner for the forensic removal and conservation of historic features, as well as other enablement tasks.
Pictured is the Olympia the exhibition hall in London where ASWS restored the architectural metalwork, keeping the historical features intact.
As is often the case with listed buildings, ASWS was initially involved with carrying out a detailed survey of the frontage to the famous exhibition centre, producing a report and creating detailed drawings of the long copper canopy. This assisted the project architects, Heatherwick Studio in obtaining planning consent. A series of scans and detailed record keeping will assist the canopy’s eventual reinstatement.
Danny Mercer, who was Erith’s Contract Manager on the project, commented, “This has been a major project for us in terms of the complexity and during the nearly four years I was running it we had around 40-50 men a week on site; with our primary responsibility being demolition, along with temporary façade support employing steelwork and kentledge.” “In addition, because of Olympia’s historic nature, there were many elements of the work which required careful dismantling and storage as well as conservation, which is where ASWS helped us greatly. Over the same period, aside from dismantling and cataloguing the canopy, their team removed a number of heritage windows and repaired louvres along with other work. They were very responsive throughout, and, without doubt, they have very good supervisors as well as skilled tradesmen.”
Pictured is the side elevation where ASWS restored the steel windows during the building’s extensive restoration project.
Kris Bennell, Contracts Director for ASWS, confirmed, “Initially on Kensington Olympia we created documents to assist in planning permission and pricing, which allowed the Conservation Officer to approve an acceptable method statement for dismantling the 60-metre-long canopy.”
“It was in 2021 when Erith asked us to cost for the careful dismantling and storage of the copper canopy to enable the façade retention works, including the erection of scaffold support. Over the past three years we have removed the multi-layered canopy from its timber frame over four separate stages, creating scans and updating drawings so that we will have all the necessary tools for its reinstatement. We have further produced reports and advised on methodologies throughout the project.”
Originally opened in 1886 as an agricultural arena, Olympia was extended and later converted to be one of the country’s biggest exhibition spaces. The current £1.3 Billion redevelopment includes offices and the creation of the capital’s first new theatre since the seventies.
ASWS is a long-established member of the Steel Window Association and well recognised expert in the repair of metal windows, from the earliest wrought iron examples through to contemporary curtain walling. The family run business is frequently called upon to prepare condition surveys during the appraisal stages of a project, which then become part of the planning or listed building permission process. The company also maintains a very large stock of ironmongery and metal frame components to assist in its restoration work.
