Winter 2001
Szerelmey are currently constructing new main entrance steps and paving to the Cromwell Road Elevation of the Victoria and Albert Museum for project managers Bovis Lend Lease Consulting together with Architects, Pringle Richards Sharratt, Quantity Surveyors, Walfords and Structural Engineers, Alan Baxter & Associates. This section of the museum was completed in 1909 and opened by King Edward VII; the entrance is dominated by a hollow lantern in the form of an Imperial Crown surmounted by a figure of Fame. A sculpture of Prince Albert stands immediately above the door with one of Queen Victoria on the arch above.

Szerelmey's works package also incorporated the formation of the reinforced concrete substructure. This operation required a high level of input from Szerelmey's resident engineer Dave Guyett during the setting out process, particularly when defining the location of the small rebate within the concrete tread to set the position of the glass risers, which were produced by Solaglas. Ducting within the concrete carries the fibre optic cables, which enable the light being diffused through the glass risers of the staircase to change colour to depict the different seasons or to suit the type of event being held within the Museum.

The Shire Hill Sandstone used on this project to produce the steps and paving was produced by George Farrar (Quarries) Limited from their quarry in Derbyshire. The overall unit size of the steps and paving has necessitated innovative lifting procedures to be developed to enable these stones to be moved around site and be placed carefully into their final position. A forklift truck was employed together with a specially designed petrol operated vacuum lifting device carefully suspended from the forks to lift and position stones up to 2.000m x 2.000m x 75mm that weighed in excess of 700kg. The entrance step works, which extend for a total length of 60 metres, were phased in order to maintain safe access to the Museum.