Issue #1/6
FREE COPY
Summer 2012
this issue q 10 Baker Street
Construction Magazine
q 15 Premier Inn Gatwick q 29 W Hotel Leicester Square q 32 Aloft Excel
McAleer & Rushe Construction Focus
The premier information tool for the construction industry www.premierconstructionmagazine.com
contents
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featured 06 10 13 15 18 23 28 32
46 – 49 Blackfriars Road 99 Baker Street 10 Portman Square Premier Inn Gatwick Airport Premier Inn Stansted Airport Premier Inn Heathrow W Hotel Leicester Square Aloft Excel
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from the editor
Publisher ROMA Publications
Dear readers, The McAleer & Rushe Group is a leading Irish property development and investment company based in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. The company specialises in high density mixed-use schemes and over the past 10 years has been the driving force behind many high quality projects, including 99 Baker Street, 10 Portman Square, 46-49 Blackfriars Road and the recently completed Premier Inn Stansted Airport. Premier Inn Stansted Airport was completed in April 2012 and was hailed as a “fantastic success” after construction reached completion 14 weeks ahead of schedule. The 303-bed hotel will now take advantage of an early trading period ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. McAleer & Rushe Construction Director, Martin Magee, said: “To deliver such a high quality finish that incorporates the latest Premier Inn brand standards 14 weeks early is no mean achievement. “This was a particularly demanding site so close to Stansted Aiport and I would like to pay tribute to our construction team for delivering the site so early and also thank
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Managing Director Marcus Howarth EDITORIAL Editor: Charlotte Emily Brazier Phone: 01706 716 255 Email: charlotte@romauk.net
Whitbread and Grove Developments for their clear brief and straight forward, collaborative approach on the scheme.” 99 Baker Street is a luxury apartment block in London that comprises a mixture of open market and affordable apartments, along with three individual family dwellings. The £6.5 million award-winning design and build project was completed in February 2012 for British Land Management Ltd. 10 Portman Square is a £46 million mixeduse building currently under construction in London. The development will include a ninestorey office block with retail units and it will feature seven above-surface floors and two basement levels. Three large terrace rooms are located at the top of the building, which will in turn provide stunning views across the nation’s capital. 46-49 Blackfriars Road is a £30 million twin hotel development that comprises a 4* Novotel and a 2* Ibis. Novotel London Blackfriars will comprise 182 guest bedrooms, 12 business suites, 6 meeting rooms and a bar and restaurant. Meanwhile, Ibis London Blackfriars will comprise 297 guest bedrooms and a bar and restaurant with a 24-hour snack service. With many more exciting projects in their portfolio we now invite you, readers, to join us as we celebrate the past, present and future of the McAleer & Rushe Group.
Assistant Editor: Alex Wiggan Phone: 01706 716 257 Email: alex@romauk.net Admin Executive Coordinator: Joanne Murphy Phone: 01706 716 251 Email: joanne@romauk.net ADVERTISING Sales and Marketing: Nicola Owen Phone: 01706 719 972 Email: admin@romauk.net SUBSCRIPTIONS Phone: 01706 719 972 Fax: 0845 458 4446 Email: admin@romauk.net DESIGN Graphic Designer: MarcusMacaulay.co.uk PRINT Pensord www.pensord.co.uk GENERAL ENQUIRIES ROMA Publications Ltd Floor 2, 1 Livsey Street, Rochdale, Greater Manchester. OL16 1SS Phone: 01706 719972 Fax: 0845 458 4446 Emai: admin@romauk.net Website: www.romauk.net COPYRIGHT © Roma Publications Ltd. All contents are copyright. All rights are reserved. No part may be stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. The editorial policy and general layout of this publication are at the discretion of the publisher and no debate will be entered into. No responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, artwork or photographs whilst in transmission with the publishers or their agents unless a commitment is made in writing prior to the receipt of such terms.
KEENWOOD has developed an enviable reputation for specialist joinery fit out executed to the highest standards.
joined up thinking
Established in 1997, Keenwood provides specialist joinery fit out services to the commercial sector in the UK and Ireland. Over the last 15 years we have refined our services to support clients at every stage of a project, from precision planning and site management through to client hand-over. In a fiercely competitive marketplace, this ‘joined up’ approach delivers substantial benefits to our clients, whether it is measured in time savings or budget efficiencies in labour and materials.
the perfect fit
Whatever project we work on, a hand picked team of skilled professionals is always matched with experienced, hands-on site management. This allows us to deliver quality that often exceeds client expectation yet conforms to brief and budget.
Keenwood is a strong partner on site. Seamus Keenan is a hands-on manager who is always available, solves problems that arise and consistently delivers a top Devlin quality job” Peter Contracts Manager, McAleer Rushe
customer satisfaction
The fact that many Keenwood clients come back to us again and again is testament to our ability to deliver quality workmanship within time and budget. These are a few of our recent projects: Aloft Hotel ExCel, London; W Hotel, Leicester Square; Offices & Apartments, Baker Street, London; Premier Inn, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports; Royal Victoria Hospital, Multiple Phases; Downpatrick Hospital; Antrim Hospital, Multiple Phases; Jury’s Inn and adjoining Office Block, Bradford; Ibis & Novotel Blackfriars, London.
get in touch
With offices in Belfast and London we can work seamlessly with clients in both countries. Please get in touch to discuss your project: Seamus Keenan, Managing Director, Keenwood Joinery. T: (028) 9064 3537 or 07802 658054 E: info@keenwood.net
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stablished in 1967, the McAleer & Rushe Group is a leading Irish property development and investment company with expertise in the construction of design and build projects. Based in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, the company is a specialist in high density mixeduse schemes with projects located across the UK, including: London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Belfast and Dublin. Over the past 10 years, McAleer & Rushe has completed over 40 hotel projects and has provided approximately 10,000 bedrooms for the UK and Irish leisure sectors. During this time, the company has built an enviable reputation for delivering high quality projects both on time and within budget. In addition, McAleer & Rushe also undertakes work for housing schemes and office developments.
Twin hotel takes shape
Located 100 metres from Suffolk Train Station, a £30 million twin hotel development is currently under construction for the Accor Hotel Group. The development is conveniently situated close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and is near to both the Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre. Taking shape at 46-49 Blackfriars Road, the project comprises the construction of one structure housing two hotels – a 4* Novotel and a 2* Ibis. Access to Novotel London Blackfriars will be located at the north-east corner of the site and entry to Ibis London Blackfriars will be located at the south-east corner of the development. Novotel London Blackfriars will comprise 182 guest bedrooms, 12 business suites, 6 meeting rooms and a bar and restaurant. The hotel will also include a full range of leisure facilities, including a swimming pool. Meanwhile, Ibis London Blackfriars will comprise 297 guest bedrooms and a bar and restaurant with a 24-hour snack service. McAleer & Rushe is the main contractor for the project, whilst Consarc is the architect. Accor Hotel Group Chief Operating Officer, JeanJacques Dessors, said: ”This important development continues Accor’s strategic and ambitious expansion in the UK particularly in London - with the Novotel and Ibis brands. ”The new hotels represent a strong endorsement of Accor’s prominence as one of the world’s leading hotel groups, and the venture is testament to Accor’s experience as a premier hotel owner for 40 years. ”We look forward to welcoming new guests to both hotels in time for the 2012 London Olympic Games.” McAleer & Rushe Property Director, Stephen Surphlis, added: ”Securing Accor as a tenant demonstrates the confidence in this hotel opportunity and the quality
Over the past 10 years, McAleer & Rushe has completed over 40 hotel projects of the investment. This substantial development will contribute significantly towards the on-going regeneration along Blackfriars Road and the Southbank area of central London.” Work began onsite in November 2010. Prior to the construction of the 14-storey complex, demolition work took place to remove a former five-storey office block. Once the site was cleared construction began on the reinforced concrete super structure, which was in turn clad with a Technocrete concrete panel. MAS 50 curtain walling was then installed to create wall panels, whilst partitions were formed using plasterboard, dry lining and blockwork. Following this, a 3-ply membrane roof was attached. Two lifts have also been installed. The basement level of the development will comprise a swimming pool with changing facilities, a manager’s office with associated back of house facilities, and the main plant room and sprinkler tank. The ground floor will include entrances for both hotels, with a sliding door for Ibis London Blackfriars leading to a reception desk, a restaurant and lifts. A revolving door for Novotel London Blackfriars will lead to a grand feature staircase, check-in desks, children’s play area and restaurant. The ground floor of Novotel London Blackfriars will also include conference facilities, a 7-metre island bar, kitchens and additional back of house facilities. There are dedicated meeting rooms on the first floor of the development, whilst the second floor and above is reserved for guest bedrooms. A plant room is located on the roof of the building. A vehicular drop-off and service bay will also be provided for the site once both hotels open, whilst a coach and taxi lay-by may also be incorporated on Blackfriars Road. Restrictions are currently in place so that construction work can only take place between 8am and 6pm during the week, and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays. As a gesture of good will, McAleer
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”We have a good working relationship with McAleer & Rushe and this is something which is very important to us.”
clients, including World Caribbean Cruises, Selfridges, & Rushe will also be undertaking a small amount of Victoria Square in Belfast and the Trafford Centre in landscaping work to help revitalise neighbouring Manchester. areas. Macspec Ltd Managing Director, James McCormick, McAleer & Rushe Contracts Manager, Peter Devlin, said: said: ”We have a good working relationship with ”The building has been constructed to meet McAleer & Rushe and this is something which is Section 20 requirements and achieve a BREEAM very important to us. We provide a service for the rating of ‘Excellent.’ We have been making very good company and in turn they provide a great working progress because all of the teams have worked well outlet for us. This relationship is very successful for together to overcome any challenges. both parties. ”A few important operations remain, including the ”We work closely with McAleer & Rushe to installation of the sliding and revolving doors for conceive designs that can be installed within budget hotel access, and some works to upgrade the paving and we have worked with the company for over two around the development. years.” ”Accor Hotel Group is a very high profile hotel chain James McCormick added: and it is great for McAleer & Rushe to be involved with ”At Macspec Ltd, our high standards of quality and this unique project. As work continues, the building our delivery of service is what we are most proud of.” is starting to become a part of the landscape and the feedback that we have received so far has been very encouraging. This makes working on a project such as this very rewarding.” Novotel London Blackfriars and Ibis Total Sign Management London Blackfriars are due to open in October 2012. • Site surveys and • Planning
Macspec Ltd
Macspec Ltd specialise in architectural metal fabrication for use across a range of industries including residential, commercial and retail. The company has been in operation for over 25 years and is a leading provider of bespoke staircases, balustrades, balconies and canopies. To date, Macspec Ltd has completed fabrication work for many high profile
• • • •
auditing Graphic design Presentation schematics In-house manufacture Research and development
• • • • • •
applications Prototyping Value engineering Implementation Project management Site installation Maintenance Programme
L&G Signs Ltd, Unit 3 Mill Place, Platt Industrial Estate, Maidstone, Platt, Sevennoaks, Kent, TN15 8FD
Tel: +44 (0)1732 783640 Fax: +44 (0)1732 789506 sales@landgsigns.co.uk www.landgsigns.co.uk
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”It was very satisfying for us to see 99 Baker Street completed.”
Rewarding success on Baker Street
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9 Baker Street is a luxury apartment block in London that comprises a mixture of open market and affordable apartments, along with three individual family dwellings. The £6.5 million award-winning design and build project was completed in February 2012 for British Land Management Ltd. McAleer & Rushe was the main contractor on the project, whilst Jestico and Whiles was the architect and Darragh Greenan of McAleer & Rushe was the project manager. Caldwell Consulting was the mechanical and electrical consultant on the project and Ian Black Consulting was the structural consultant.
McAleer & Rushe Project Manager, Darragh Greenan, commented: ”It was very satisfying for us to see 99 Baker Street completed. We were happy with the finished development and our client British Land Management Ltd was also pleased with our work. Upon completion of 99 Baker Street, British Land Management Ltd put McAleer & Rushe forward for one of its internal company awards and we won Development Supplier of the Year 2012. ”Receiving recognition for this project was a fantastic achievement for McAleer & Rushe.” Work began on 99 Baker Street in October 2010 and comprised the conversion of a former office building into apartment block containing 19 open market properties and five affordable properties. Three muse houses located to the rear of the building were also refurbished, transforming them into stunning family units. All of the apartments feature en suite bathrooms and modern kitchens, whilst luxurious fixtures and fittings and have been fully fitted to meet the requirements of modern city living. Additional features include oak timber floors, lime stone tiles, carpeted bedrooms and granite work tops in the kitchens. Prior to the transformation of the Baker Street site, structural tests and an ecology report were carried out. As a result of the investigations, asbestos was discovered and had to be removed before any further work could take place. Following this, a shell was constructed and a number of internal alterations were made, including the extension of the lift shaft and the remodelling
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Due to the development’s close proximity to Westminster, site staff operated within strict working hours to reduce noise and disruptions.
of the sixth floor to allow for a pent house to be installed. The lift previously only reached the fifth floor of the building, so alterations were therefore made to allow access to the sixth floor of the building. All of the existing windows on the building were removed and replaced with UPVC windows, whilst a new external facade was installed using Jura Limestone and Rimex to create a curved serpentine affect to the building. 99 Baker Street also incorporates a number of environmentally friendly practices, including photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof and rainwater harvesting tanks in the car park. All of the apartments also include a heat recovery system in order to make the building more energy efficient. A small amount of landscaping work took place at 99 Baker Street and largely focused on resurfacing an existing car park with resin bound gravel. In addition, a number of planters were also introduced into the site. Due to the development’s close proximity to Westminster, site staff operated within strict working hours to reduce noise and disruptions.
Good communication with neighbouring businesses was also vital to completing the works. McAleer & Rushe Contracts Manager, Jonathan O’Neil, said: ”99 Baker Street was an important project for McAleer & Rushe to be involved with. Converting an existing building within Greater London into a high-end, mixed-use housing scheme was challenging but very worthwhile. The development looks great within our portfolio of work and perfectly demonstrates what McAleer & Rushe can do on a design and build basis. ”This is the first contract that McAleer & Rushe completed whilst working with British Land Management Ltd and the development of this relationship was very important to us. We built up a great team on this project and its successful completion allowed us to move onto 10 Portman Square, our next project with British Land Management Ltd, with confidence. ”British Land Management Ltd is one of the biggest developers in London and we look forward to working with them on many more projects in the future.”
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Strengthening working relationships on Portman Square
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0 Portman Square is a £46 million mixeduse building currently under construction in London. The design and build project will create a nine-storey office block with retail units within the basement and ground floors of the building. The 139,000 sq ft development comprises seven above-surface floors – each measuring approximately 20,000 sq ft – and two basement levels, including a lower level plant room. Three large
terrace rooms are located at the top of the building and will provide stunning views across the nation’s capital. McAleer & Rushe is the main contractor and Jestico and Wiles is the architect. The mechanical and electrical consultant is Caldwell and the structural consultant is Ian Black Consulting. This is the second time that this team has worked together, after successfully completing 99 Baker Street for British Land Management Ltd.
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10 Portman Square is situated in a very prominent location in an area of London that is currently seeing a rise in highquality office developments.
McAleer & Rushe Contracts Manager, Jonathan O’Neil, said: ”The development of 10 Portman Square is linked to our recently completed residential block at 99 Baker Street, and it is a very important project for McAleer & Rushe. ”Whilst 99 Baker Street is the residential element of our work for British Land Management Ltd, 10 Portman Square provides office and retail space and was initiated as part of our developing working relationship with the client. ”10 Portman Square is situated in a very prominent location in an area of London that is currently seeing a rise in high-quality office developments. This will be our first project of this scale to be delivered in the West End, and we look forward to seeing the completed development.” Work began on the 10 Portman Square in November 2011 with the demolition of an existing building on the site. Once the site was cleared, piling was installed to create the basement levels of the development, which was in turn covered with concrete. Following this, the erection of the steel structural frame began and was completed in July 2012. Works to create the envelope of the building are currently underway and the first panels, brackets and ancillary equipment have been installed. In addition, the basement levels have been insulated, whilst first-fix mechanical and electrical installations have been completed between the basement levels and the third floor.
Once work is complete, a small amount of hard landscaping work will be conducted to tie the development back into the existing walkways located around the site. An eight-space car parking will also be installed. The development has been designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental rating. Jonathan O’Neil commented: ”We have encountered a few challenges already whilst working on this project, including the logistics of working on an island site in London and the inclement weather. However, work is continuing to progress well. We are currently on programme, and we are very pleased with the work that we have conducted so far. ”Once complete, 10 Portman Square will feature a number of high-quality finishes, both internally and externally. We have worked for quite a long period of time with British Land Management Ltd to enhance these aspects of the site, and our aim is to ensure that when this development is finished we have built the appropriate product for our client. ”McAleer & Rushe is involved with a number of office block projects, and 10 Portman Square will be a major addition for us as we continue to expand our portfolio of works. Working with British Land Management Ltd is very important to McAleer & Rushe, and we look forward to continuing to develop this great working relationship.” 10 Portman Square is scheduled for completion in early 2013.
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”The site is right beside the drop-off zone for the North Terminal so it is located within a very busy section of the airport.”
UK’s largest Premier Inn set to land at Gatwick Airport
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remier Inn London Gatwick Airport will become the UK’s largest Premier Inn once it is completed in November 2012. The £30 million project comprises the construction of a 250,000 ft² hotel, approximately 20,000ft² of private office space and a 400 space multi-storey car park (MSCP). The 13-storey Premier Inn is being built for Arora Hotels and has been constructed at the North Terminal of London’s busy Gatwick Airport. Work began on the prestigious project in March 2011, with McAleer & Rushe Ltd as the main contractor and Urban Innovations as the architect. Once work on the site is complete, Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport will be operated by Whitbread. McAleer & Rushe Contracts Manager, Mark Elliott, said: ”The site is right beside the drop-off zone for the North Terminal so it is located within a very busy section of airport and is extremely convenient for people with early flights. ”Guests will be able to stay overnight just a couple of minutes from the North Terminal, which will make their departure a lot easier. It will offer panoramic views which will allow guests to look out over the airport as well as the surrounding countryside. ”Gatwick Airport Ltd has plans to expand in the future, and this hotel will help to facilitate these plans. We are very pleased to be involved with such a large scheme.” Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport will be a 630-bed hotel with an integrated office space on the 12th floor. The building is being built using a reinforced concrete frame with punch-hole aluminium gauged windows and an asphalt roof. The curved external facade of the building sweeps around the drop-off zone of the North Terminal and will feature an Alucobond Rainscreen cladding system. The hotel is being built on the site of a former surface level car park. The hotel reception will be located on level two of the
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building, along with a restaurant and Costa Coffee shop that will be open for public use. An internal open-air courtyard will also be included at the site, whilst landscaping will include a small grassed area complete with trees and shrubs. A 400-metre pumping main is also being installed for drainage. To date, first-fix service work has been completed on the site and suspended ceilings have been installed at the second level. Work is currently underway on the fit-out of the third and fourth levels, including the installation of carpets and furniture. Decorating specialists are currently carrying out all of the painting works. Mark Elliott said: ”A monorail service runs between the North and South Terminals at Gatwick Airport and this splits our site in two, which makes access a little tricky at times. Good communication between Gatwick Airport Ltd and McAleer & Rushe is vital, and I’m pleased to say that we haven’t encountered any problems. ”This is the third project that we’ve been involved with for the Arora Group. We have a great working relationship with them and hope to have many more opportunities to work with them in the future. We are also very pleased to be working with Whitbread,
as they are a great organisation and we value our involvement with the Premier Inn brand.” Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport is scheduled for completion in November 2012.
Cross Group
Cross Group, specialise in the design and installation of air conditioning and refrigeration units for the retail and leisure industries within the UK. The company has been in operation since 1937 and have completed works for the Radisson Group amongst others. Currently Cross Group is working on their second dot com facility for Tesco. Working with McAleer & Rushe, Cross Group has installed energy efficient air conditioning units for Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport, Premier Inn Stansted Airport and W London Leicester Square. All of the work was organised by Cross Group Sales Director, Randal McAllister. Cross Group Managing Director, Andrew Nesbitt, said: ”Over the last three years working with McAleer & Rushe has been very important for us. McAeer & Rushe is a premier building contractor in Ireland and we have secured a lot of business through our working relationship with the company.”
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Another early arrival for Premier Inn Stansted Airport
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n £11.7 million project to provide Stansted Airport with a brand new Premier Inn has been hailed as a “fantastic success” after construction was completed 14 weeks ahead of schedule. Work was completed on the 303-bedroom hotel in April 2012, with the official opening date taking place on June 11th 2012. The design and build contract was originally scheduled to run for 54 weeks, however the early finish now allows the four-storey hotel to take advantage of an early trading period ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. McAleer & Rushe was the main contractor for the project and Consarc Design Group was the architect. The project was built for Grove Developments, a subsidiary of Arora Hotels, and is operated by Whitbread. Funding for the project was provided by international financial services company Prudential Plc. McAleer & Rushe Construction Director, Martin Magee, said: ”To deliver such a high quality finish that incorporates the latest Premier Inn brand standards 14 weeks early is no mean achievement. This was a particularly demanding site so close to Stansted Aiport and I would like to pay tribute to our construction team for delivering the site so early and also thank Whitbread and Grove Developments for their clear brief and straight forward, collaborative
approach on the scheme.” Whitbread Senior Project and Programme Manager, Steve Hammond added: ”Premier Inn is expanding aggressively as we respond to strong customer demand for our highquality, affordable product and our customers’ desire for well-located Premier Inn hotels across the country. ”Our new Stansted hotel is another excellent site for us. It is within minutes of the main terminal and mid-stay car-park and takes us a step closer to our target of increasing the 47,000 Premier Inn
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”To deliver such a high quality finish 14 weeks early is no mean achievement.”
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bedrooms we currently have to 65,000 by 2016.” Premier Inn Stansted Airport is situated on Thermall Avenue, just one mile from airport and in close proximity of the A120. Prior to housing the hotel, the site was used by the Airport as a storage facility for materials. The hotel was constructed from a concrete frame, with infill block work and concrete pads for the sub structure. A single ply membrane Cefil, UPVC windows, insulated render and Alucobond cladding were used for the external facade.
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The ground floor comprises 36 guest bedrooms, a bar, a large Costa Coffee counter and a reception desk with ancillary areas. A restaurant is also located on the ground floor and serves full and continental breakfasts, evening meals and light snacks. The remaining three floors of the building comprise an even split of guest bedrooms and storage areas. All of the bedrooms are en suite and include tea/ coffee making facilities, a desk and an LCD TV. Family rooms and rooms with disabled access are also available for guests and Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the hotel. Sinead Hughes, Head of Grove Developments, said: ”Working with McAleer & Rushe on our development pipeline has been very positive. McAleer & Rushe has consistently surpassed the targets that we have set them. Not only have they delivered this hotel earlier than scheduled, but they did the same at the new 400-bed Premier Inn at Heathrow Terminal 5, which opened earlier this year. “Both schemes were completed well ahead of schedule, within budget and finished to our very exacting standards.” McAleer & Rushe Contracts Manager, Mark Diamond, added: ”The project achieved practical completion on 30th April 2012. We encountered a few difficulties procuring the utilities and there was a large sustainable drainage scheme to deliver – one of the largest we’ve had to undertake – but everything ran smoothly and everyone is ecstatic with the level of quality that we have achieved. ”Completing this work ahead of schedule with no compromise on quality or health and safety was brilliant for McAleer & Rushe and demonstrates how much of a fantastic success this project was. ”Both Grove Developments and Whitbread were extremely delighted with our work and being open in advance of the London 2012 Olympic Games will be a huge boost to the opening of this new site.”
Northern Lights (Chesterfield) Ltd
Established in 1987, Northern Lights have been at the forefront of the contract lighting industry for more than two decades. Working with McAleer & Rushe, Northern Lights provided a complete lighting package for various Premier Inns. The light fittings supplied include ceiling lights, table and floor lamps for the bedrooms as well as bathroom fittings. Northern Lights is dedicated to providing a bespoke one-stop lighting service, from consultation, design and manufacture
”Working with McAleer + Rushe on our development pipeline has been very positive.”
through to project management. In addition to Premier Inn, Northern Lights (Chesterfield) also supply light fittings to all Whitbread brands including Costa Coffee, Beefeater Grills, Brewers Fayre and Table Table. Additional high profile clients include Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hilton Hotels and Grand Hyatt Hotels. Northern Lights Director, John Fleming, said: ”We are very proud to be chosen by McAleer & Rushe to supply the lighting for Premier Inn and we look forward to working together in the future.”
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Premier Inn Heathrow project lands ahead of schedule
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remier Inn Heathrow Terminal 5 reached completion an impressive three months ahead of schedule. Main contractor McAleer & Rushe and White Ink Architects delivered the Dexter Moren £18m design for Arora Hotels. Practical completion of the project was achieved in 46 weeks, against a scheduled timeframe of 59 weeks. The three-star hotel is now be operated by leading hospitality and leisure group Whitbread. Arora Hotels was founded by Surinder Arora in 1999 and has since become the largest hotel company at the Heathrow and Gatwick airports, boasting over 1,000 employees. Their impressive portfolio comprises a range of luxury hotels across the UK, including the recently opened 605-bedroom Sofitel London Heathrow. Commenting on the early completion of the Premier Inn Heathrow project, Surinder Arora said: ”It was very exciting to see this project completed in just eleven months. I was extremely pleased with what was achieved and would like to extend my thanks to all of those involved on the project.” Premier Inn Heathrow is located north of Heathrow Airport and is bound by the A4 Colnbrook bypass to
the north and Bath Road to the south. A public right of way adjoins the site to the western side and the eastern boundary adjoins the neighbouring site of a McDonald’s restaurant. Comprising around 128,550 sq ft of space, the 400-bedroom hotel extends to five storeys and incorporates an 18,000 sq ft bar/restaurant/coffee area. An 80-space car park and soft landscaping was also included on the site. Referring to the importance of quality control on such fast-tracked programmes, Claude Maguire of White Ink Architects explained: ”Quality control was paramount throughout and certain measures were put in place to ensure the workmanship by sub-contractors was maintained at the highest standards. ”In particular, the cladding and window subcontractors were asked to construct a onestorey sample of the elevation. Once all parties were satisfied with the build ability, responsibility and quality of the sample panel, it was signed off and used as a measure against which the rest of the facade was judged acceptable. ”Inside the frame, a fully finished sample bedroom and section of corridor was constructed to specification. The sample room was then inspected,
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tested and signed off by Premier Inn before work proceeded within the other rooms. Within 16 weeks, the first of 400 fully finished bathroom pods were hoisted into place.” In order to ensure that the development was sustainable, an energy strategy was developed by Caldwell Consulting. In addition, rainwater recycling was introduced and construction materials were chosen with the lifecycle cost in mind. As a result, the completed building achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’. Other challenges included the discovery of contaminated soils, which ultimately required testing and management. Due to the site’s proximity to Heathrow Airport the development required careful detailing in order to meet the set acoustic regulations, whilst it was also necessary to work with the Local Authority, Highways Department and Transport for London to agree works required under Section 106. As one of the UK’s leading hotel developer contractors, the company has completed in excess of 12,000 bedrooms for a range of leading investors and operators, with clients including Starwood, Accor, IHG, Jurys Inns Group and Premier Inn. Recent projects include three further Premier Inn hotels for Arora Hotels including a flagship 630-bedroom hotel linked to Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal and a 297-bedroom Ibis on Blackfriars Road. Mark Elliot, Project Manager for McAleer & Rushe, said: ”This 400-bed scheme at Heathrow was the first of over 2,000 rooms that we will be completing for Arora Hotels over the next two years.
It was very exciting to see this project completed in just eleven months. I was extremely pleased with what was achieved. ”We were extremely pleased that the scheme was completed over three months ahead of schedule, which was due in no small part to an excellent working relationship with Arora Hotels, Whitbread and all of the contractors on the site. ”The non-adversarial approach of McAleer & Rushe towards every project that we undertake creates a friendly yet professional atmosphere. Our ultimate aim is to complete a first class product for our client.” McAleer & Rushe were appointed at the outline planning stage, allowing the firm’s design and build team to implement the amendments necessary to achieve a more efficient building. Workmanship on the scheme also had to meet the standards demanded by Premier Inn, with these standards eventually proving to surpass the operator’s expectations.
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The on-airport location led to some unique challenges and as a result, bespoke specifications were employed in order to meet the requirements of the scheme. Construction methods were devised in order to achieve the necessary acoustic quality, whilst careful consideration had to be given to landscaping, car parking and external lighting proposals. Martin Magee, Construction Director for McAleer & Rushe, commented: ”This project was testament not only to the McAleer & Rushe team, but also to the seamless working relationship we have with Arora Hotels and Premier Inn. ”With any project such as this, the end user requirements are paramount. Premier Inn has clearly defined brand standards and rigorous specifications to be achieved, but their straightforward approach combined with a clear brief from Arora Hotels allowed us to deliver an efficient, high quality building. ”This was the first of four buildings to be constructed on behalf of Arora Hotels and after the success achieved on this project, we look forward with confidence to completing the other properties in the development programme in a similar fashion. “We are very appreciative of the excellent relationship we have with Arora Hotels and hope that this relationship can be extended beyond the existing contracted properties.” Sinead Hughes, Head of Developments at Arora Hotels, added: “We were delighted to work with McAleer & Rushe on this turnkey project. Completing the project to exacting standards, both ahead of time and within budget, augers well for the remaining properties in the development programme.” Premier Inn Heathrow architects Dexter Moren Associates created a ‘doughnut’ form that centred on an inner courtyard in order to provide an acoustic buffer zone from the busy roads that bound to the north and south. Public areas – including the main entrance, restaurant and bar – are located on the ground floor and the bedrooms are located on the four levels above. The ground floor is a mix of glazed curtain walling and masonry construction, whilst the upper floors are clad in a colourful rainscreen skin. As a result, the building takes the form of a rainscreen coloured box that hovers on a glazed/solid masonry base. An array of colours has been carefully selected to create a dynamic and animated facade, with hues chosen in order to complement the landscaping. The strips of colour also serve to emphasise the verticality of the elevation, subsequently providing some relief from the horizontal form. Although the hotel is significantly larger than the average Premier Inn, it has been designed to make the most of the efficiencies provided by modular and other modern methods of construction.
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Although the hotel is significantly larger than the average Premier Inn, it has been designed to make the most of the efficiencies provided by modular and other modern methods of construction.
Wan Yau, Director of Dexter Moren Associates, said: ”The brief was for the design of an efficient and contemporary 400-bedroom Premier Inn Hotel incorporating a restaurant, bar and cafe on the site of the former Longford House office and associated car parking on Bath Road. ”With a number of other airport-site Premier Inns being designed concurrently, the efficiency of detailing and suitability for delivery using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) was an important aspect of the design brief. ”Through careful planning and consideration of all aspects, we have produced a design for an elegant, contemporary and robust hotel in an airport setting. We have created a calm and quiet environment in which guests can enjoy a good night’s sleep. ”Every site has its own unique set of challenges and the Premier Inn at Heathrow is no exception. One of these challenges was the acoustic conditions across the site. Accurate survey and extensive acoustic modelling of the proposed facades were undertaken to meet this challenges. ”However, proactive engagement with all stakeholders and a flexible approach to the design brief allowed these challenges to inform and enrich the design brief. Dexter Moren Associates completed several hotel developments within the confines of airports. This experience enabled us to provide appropriate solutions to overcome design challenges and ensure that the guests’ experiences are maximised.” In 2010, White Ink Architects were appointed by McAleer & Rushe to develop the outline plans by Dexter Moren in order to maximise the efficiency of the building and to develop construction details that responded to the technical challenges of
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constructing a hotel within 200 metres of a major UK airport. Claude Maguire of White Ink Architects said: ”White Ink’s initial task was to refine the design thus accumulating savings not only for the construction budget but also for the long-term management and running costs of the hotel. ”Having agreed design amendments with the local Council our primary challenge was to ensure that the hotel met the acoustic specification for Premier Inn, who guarantee their guests an undisturbed night’s sleep or no charge. ”Acoustic reports showed noise levels in excess of 90dB at the edge of the site and it initially seemed that the only solution was to construct a mechanically-ventilated building with a fully sealed envelope, secondary glazing and acoustic window units. This would have resulted in a development that was expensive to construct, inefficient to run, costly to maintain and generally unsustainable. ”We, along with M&E engineers Caldwell Consulting, researched and developed a number of construction details to ensure that the completed building could be naturally ventilated whilst meeting the stringent acoustic requirements of Premier Inn. ”In the completed building, fresh air is drawn in through specially developed slots which are incorporated into the rainscreen facade panel. The fresh air is then directed through a sound attenuator and heat exchanger before being ducted into the en suite bathrooms. Stale air undergoes the reverse process before being exhausted through the facade.” In addition, the team ensured that the dense
The technical challenges of constructing a hotel within 200 metres of a major UK airport.
concrete blockwork that supports the rainscreen facade was built to a very high specification. All of the joints were fully filled and sealed in order to eliminate air-gaps which would compromise the acoustic quality of the building envelope. Special attention was also paid to the joint between the blockwork and the window surrounds which were fully filled with acoustic insulation before they were sealed. The windows themselves were provided as a fully-sealed, acoustically-lined unit that incorporates secondary glazing. Upon completion, comprehensive acoustic testing by independent consultants revealed that the building surpassed Premier Inn’s acoustic requirements, illustrating that the measures taken by the team during the design and construction periods were extremely effective and worthwhile.
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The Swiss Centre was demolished and in its place the ten-storey building, boasting a shimmering frosted glass facade, was constructed.
W Hotel Leicester Square
W
London Leicester Square is located within a ten-story, mixed-use development in the heart of London. When the hotel opened in 2011, it replaced Leicester Square’s Swiss Centre and formed part of an extensive redevelopment and regeneration scheme for London’s West End. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. partnered with McAleer & Rushe to create the £200 million hotel, which was constructed alongside a number of retail and leisure units on the site. Work began on the project in September 2008 and was completed in January 2011. The Swiss Centre that had previously sat on the site was constructed in 1962 and comprised the Swiss Bank and the Swiss National Tourist Board. As part of the project, the Swiss Centre – including its iconic figurine clock – was demolished and in its place the ten-storey building boasting a shimmering
frosted glass facade was constructed. Managing Director of McAleer & Rush, Eamonn Laverty, said: ”Attracting a prestigious global brand like W Hotels to the UK added to the major significance of our Leicester Square regeneration project. The mixed-use development of hotel, retail and leisure facilities created a highly visible gateway to Leicester Square and formed part of McAleer & Rushe’s wider involvement in the regeneration of London’s West End.” W London Leicester Square comprises 192 guest bedrooms, a luxurious destination bar, a screening room, a spa/gym, a library lounge and the Spire Market restaurant. The library lounge provides access to the stunning bar, whilst an exclusive afternoon tea menu includes smoked salmon, cream cheese and scones. The front of the building includes a glazed veil that was provided by Jestico & Whiles, whilst an interactive lighting system was installed in the Hotel by Jason Bruges. Concrete provided the interior
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The creation of the world-class hotel is regarded as another successful project for McAleer & Rushe.
design work at W London Leicester Square. The creation of the world-class hotel is regarded as another successful project for McAleer & Rushe, particularly as it was also awarded the impressive accolade of Best UK Project MIPIM 2011. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Senior Vice President, Michael Wale, commented: ”As part of the W brand’s global expansion, W London Hotel, Leicester Square provides a unique alternative for our global guests while facilitating their discovery of one of the world’s most fashionable cities. W London Hotel, Leicester Square offers escape, exclusivity and innovative design in the heart of London’s most dynamic district.” W Hotels is a global lifestyle brand with 23 properties in the most vibrant cities around the world. Inspiring and indulging its guests with thoughtful, refreshing and stylish experiences, W Hotel has become the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world. Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design, comfort, and cultural design
influences. W Hotel’s ever expanding portfolio includes sites in Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East and in 2007 W Hotel Maldives received the prestigious Travel + Leisure Design Award for Best Resort.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is a leading hotel and leisure company with approximately 900 properties in more than 95 countries. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with internationally renowned brands including St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W, and Le Méridien in its portfolio. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.
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Aloft rises on the London Docks
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ituated at Royal Victoria Dock, Aloft London Excel opened in October 2011 to become the newest addition to the ExCel London campus. The hotel is located at ExCel’s east entrance and is close to Olympic Park, the O2 Arena and Canary Wharf whilst offering easy access to Docklands Light Railway. Aloft London Excel is a four-star business hotel and comprises 252 bedrooms, meeting rooms, a fitness centre and a pool. A restaurant – re:fuel by Aloft – is also situated within the hotel and will provide guests with a 24-hour food and drinks facility. The ground floor of the hotel comprises a bar, gym, swimming pool and spa. A glass wall located next to the pool creates an interesting water feature, whilst LED lighting is used to illuminate the pool.
Meeting rooms and staff areas are located on the first floor, whilst bedrooms are situated on the second floor and above. All of the bedrooms in the hotel include platform beds, 42” LCD televisions and access to the Wi-Fi network. Additional features include signature ceilings, large windows and walkin showers. McAleer and Rushe was the main contractor and conducted the work on behalf of international leisure and hotel company, Starwood Hotels. Prior to work beginning on the site, McAleer and Rushe conducted a programme of extensive ground works to provide the site with necessary drainage provisions. The basin of the site was then filled with layers of clean stone, 50mm of core and 100mm of tarmac. Throughout June and July 2010, ongoing negotiations with City Airport took place Events
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All of the bedrooms in the hotel include platform beds, 42” LCD televisions and access to the Wi-Fi network
at the ExCel centre also necessitated the erection of extra hoarding around the site to mask the work from public view. Morgan Syndall carried out piling works on the site in July 2010. This was followed by the erection of the concrete framework, which was completed in midNovember 2010. The facade was constructed from pre-fabricated panels – manufactured by Metallbau Fruh – and was fixed to brackets already installed on the frame. The 8,000 sq metre bespoke external facades were designed as a modular cladding system, with one half comprising a silicone structural bonded glass and the other half comprising coloured stainless steel shingles. The shingles are extremely reflective and were specially treated prior to installation so that they could change colour throughout the day depending upon light conditions.
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In total the construction of Excell Aloft lasted for 68 weeks.
Throughout the duration of the programme, careful consultation with neighbouring businesses was undertaken to ensure that all of the works ran smoothly and didn’t cause any disruptions to nearby services. In total the construction of Excell Aloft lasted for 68 weeks and many of the subcontractors on the site were involved with the nearby W London Leicester Square. Throughout the construction of the hotel, the site was part of the Considerate Constructors scheme and achieved a BREEAM rating of Excellent.
Metallbau Früh
Metallbau Früh is a family-owned company that has been in operation for more than 100 years. The company has been active in the UK market for the past 25 years and has completed many prestigious
projects including a site for NM Rothschilds Bank in London, the Titanic Signature Building in Belfast and W London Leicester Square. Since its inception, Metallbau Früh has evolved into a leading specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of building envelopes. All of Metallbau Früh’s operations are carried out in-house under the strictest quality control measures and many of the company’s projects come from repeat business and recommendation.
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