CampbellReith’s engineering team is proud to have acted as checking Engineer for the successful operation of lowering the roof of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, originally constructed in 1937.
CampbellReith was commissioned by Capital and Counties Plc to review the design and method statements put forward by specialist deconstruction contractor Keltbray.
On 23rd October the entire roof structure measuring 126 m x 76 m was lowered by 25 m in one 11-hour precision operation using computer controlled strand jacks supporting each end of the six massive 76 m wide main trusses.
CampbellReith has been retained engineering consultant at Earls Court for 20 years. The company’s detailed knowledge of the structure assisted the contractor in preparing the method for the safe lowering and deconstruction of the roof.
The measures put in place were the subject of many years of planning and scrutiny to ensure that the surrounding properties and the live London Underground tunnels beneath remained safe and undisturbed throughout.
The EC1 roof lowering is a major milestone in the demolition of the main exhibition hall and for the Earls Court development. Both Earls Court 1 and 2 are due to be fully demolished by mid-2016, at which point the site will then be prepared for the next phase of construction.
Gary Yardley, Capco Managing Director said: ‘There is real momentum behind the regeneration of Earls Court and the creation of a vibrant new part of London. The lowering of the roof marks a significant milestone and we look forward to continuing this fantastic progress to bring forward London’s newest great estate.’
About Earls Court
The Earls Court Masterplan is the largest development opportunity in central London, covering over 70 acres of prime land and located across Chelsea and Fulham. The predominantly residential scheme is consented to provide over 7,500 new homes. The site is well connected, offering strong public transport accessibility in an established location with history and heritage.
For more details, please contact: Mike Allen, Senior Partner.
Click here to see a video of the roof lowering, an impressive 11 hour operation, courtesy of Keltbray.