Issue 42 summer 24 web - Flipbook - Page 57
ASWS answers fresh
call from County Hall
Building on its 30-year long association with the former GLC headquarters on the south bank of the
Thames, Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) has provided its unique skillset to a company
carrying out an equally unusual style of redevelopment within the property’s long neglected top floor
level.
ASWS carried out a comprehensive, yet carefully
considered repair and replacement contract at County
Hall on behalf of Cast Interiors which specialises in sustainable refurbishments, whereby as much as possible of
an old building is reused or repurposed to minimise waste.
All the work was completed within a very tight timescale;
including additional works not originally envisaged.
Though generally measuring 1.2 x 2.1metres, the three
section dormers were two metres square and had been exposed to the full force of the weather. For the 11 openings
which required new frames fabricating, ASWS drew on
its experience in replica refurbishment in order to respect
the Grade II listing.
Director of ASWS, Kris Bennell, recounted, “The original
windows featured Mid-Universal suite steel frames, so for
the 11 which had to be reinstated we produced close replicas using W20 sections; though across the job as a whole
we were asked to provide a ‘light touch’ restoration. This
is very much the ethos of the client - Sustainable Ventures
- which is committed to providing sustainable workspaces;
as well as offering help with issues such as funding and
recruitment.”
Level 5 of County Hall had actually been empty since
1994, with little maintenance carried out and a number
of the dormer window structures having been boarded up
or infilled with brickwork for the past two decades.
Following its completion of a detailed condition survey
on behalf of the project consultants, Material Works Architects, ASWS was duly tasked with repairing and easing
a total of 134 faceted bay windows, many of which had
suffered heavy corrosion.
i
i
Conservation & Heritage Journal
55
