Duke of York Square, Chelsea
New openings through load-bearing walls in a listed building, with strip-out, for a second-floor office refurbishment.
Structural Works at Duke of York Square, Chelsea
REB Group undertook a programme of structural alteration works as part of the refurbishment of the second-floor offices at Duke of York Square, Chelsea. The project involved working within an existing listed building, requiring a careful balance between the proposed architectural alterations and the preservation of the building’s historic fabric.
A key element of the works was the formation of new openings through existing internal load-bearing walls. These walls were integral to the building’s structure, supporting the floors and contributing to its overall stability, making the knock-through works considerably more complex than a conventional internal alterations. We also removed suspended ceilings and ventilation ducting as well as taking up floor tiles and general stripout works, removal of kitchen etc
The structural works required carefully planned temporary and permanent support to maintain the integrity of the existing structure throughout the process. Local sections of the existing masonry were retained to form structural piers, with new steel lintels installed over the openings to safely transfer loads while maintaining the existing load paths.
Working in the heart of Chelsea presented additional logistical and operational challenges. The busy urban location required detailed planning, careful coordination and a controlled approach to deliveries, access and the execution of structural works within an occupied and highly constrained environment.
REB Group’s experience in structural alterations and refurbishment was particularly important in managing the interface between the existing building, the new structural openings and the wider construction programme. The works were undertaken with a focus on safety, precision and minimising disruption, while respecting the character and heritage requirements of the listed building.
Outcome
The completed structural alterations provide the required new openings and improved layout while retaining key elements of the original construction and maintaining the building’s structural performance and stability.
Project team
- Main Contractor: Mitre Construction
- Client: Commercial Developer
On site
How it went
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