Kensington Olympia Redevelopment
Project Overview
Project Name: Kensington Olympia Redevelopment
Location: Hammersmith Road, London
Project Value: £1.3 billion
Scope of Work: Design and implementation of enabling works, including facade retention and demolition of the existing venue building. The project featured the retention of an Art Deco Grade II listed facade, requiring careful structural solutions to preserve its integrity.
Challenges
- No Vacant Possession – The site remained partially operational, limiting access and requiring phased construction.
- Tight Timeframes – The project was executed during the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating efficient design solutions to minimize delays.
- Limited Structural Openings – The facade had very few windows, restricting options for temporary support and access.
- Traffic Constraints – A complex traffic management system along Hammersmith Road posed logistical challenges for material delivery and crane positioning.
Innovative Design Solutions
- Utilization of Existing Vaults – The pre-existing vaults were infilled with mass concrete, serving a dual purpose:
- Providing a stable foundation for the facade retention system.
- Functioning as a 5m-high gravity wall, enabling piling rig operations immediately behind the facade without the need for complex basement propping.
- Flexible Steel Connections – A custom-designed steel connection system was developed to attach to the existing facade steelwork. This eliminated the need for a full structural survey, which was unfeasible due to ongoing occupancy constraints.
Outcome and Impact
- Structural Stability – The innovative approach ensured the safe retention of the historic facade while allowing demolition and piling work to proceed seamlessly.
- Time and Cost Efficiency – By eliminating the need for extensive basement propping and full structural surveys, the design significantly reduced project delays and costs.
- Minimal Disruption – The retention system was installed with minimal interference to ongoing site operations and traffic flow.
Key Takeaways
This project showcased the importance of adaptive engineering solutions in complex urban redevelopments. The strategic use of existing structures for facade retention, combined with innovative steel connection design, allowed for a more efficient and cost-effective approach while preserving the historical integrity of Kensington Olympia.