Spring 2003

Szerelmey have now completed the cleaning operations to the retained facades on this prestigious development and the next phase of the works is now in progress. The existing stonework to a number of the listed facades requires to be retained for reinstatement. Each individual stone to these facades has been individually recorded by Szerelmey''s in house design department by numbering and cross-referencing with drawings.

The stonework has then been carefully dismantled and taken away from site and deposited within a secure storage area. All joggle joints and mortar beds have been cleaned whilst in storage ready for delivery back to site. As the height of these facades is being increased new Portland stonework is being supplied and fixed to infill lower levels prior to the salvaged stonework being refixed at new levels on the same façade where they were originally positioned.

Work has also begun on other façades where additional new stone is being built above the existing stonework to extend the height of the finished buildings. On this very restricted site in the City of London the new worked Portland Stone is palletised and shrink wrapped prior to delivery.

On delivery the stonework is either lifted by tower crane on to the scaffold gantry adjacent to each area of work or offloaded by forklift and hoisted up in a goods hoist. The pallets are then picked up by a pallet truck and taken to the appropriate gantry. Individual stones are then lifted by block and tackle on to a running rail, which runs from the gantry to the rear face of the scaffolding. The stone is then transferred to a further running rail, which runs along the face of the building. After drilling for fixing positions the stones are then placed by carefully lowering them with the block and tackle into their final position.

Winter 2001

Szerelmey commenced work at Lion Plaza in August 2001 for Singapore based developer Lion Heart Properties under the direction of the project and construction managers Capital Project Consultancy Limited. Lion Plaza is situated in the heart of the City of London at the junction of Threadneedle Street and Old Broad Street on a site that has been in use since mediaeval times. The site comprises of ten buildings built between 1860 and 1931 of which seven are listed. The façades of all but one of these buildings are being retained whilst a new
office/retail development is being constructed behind.This will ultimately provide 180,000 square feet of office space and 70,000 square feet of retail space.

Szerelmey''s contract, worth over £3 million, incorporates the cleaning and restoration of the retained façades including leadwork to cornices and copings and the design, procurement, supply and installation of new stonework. This stonework element of Szerelmey''s work package includes alterations and extensions to the existing buildings and two completely new Portland stone façades. In total over 500 cubic metres of Portland stone will be used. Szerelmey''s in-house design team are carrying out the design of the stonework together with all the associated fixings required.

Cleaning operations are nearing completion, which overlap with the repairs and alterations, which will continue into the New Year. Fixing of the new stonework element of Szerelmey''s package is due to commence in March 2002 and continue through until the end of August 2002. Szerelmey have been working closely with the project Architects,The Halpern Partnership to find a suitable match to the existing Portland stone.

All of the existing buildings are built of Portland stone but having been built at different periods there is a wide variation in the appearance partly because of the differing shell content. In order to achieve the closest possible match on all façades, stone from several different Portland quarries will be used.

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