Delivering Technical Solutions To Former Woolworths HQ

Refurbishing older buildings can present significant challenges for contractors, especially with structural constraints and evolving regulations. Drawing on extensive experience in navigating such projects, Kernow was able to provide effective support to our customer on their latest undertaking, the Metropolis Building.

The Metropolis Building (former Woolworths HQ) was a 174,000 sq ft office redevelopment project located in Marylebone, London. The development aimed to create flexible workspaces with world-class sustainability, and it has since achieved the highly prestigious BREEAM Outstanding rating.

This refurbishment presented multiple technical and logistical challenges, each requiring innovative and carefully considered solutions.

What Solutions Did Kernow Provide?

Bespoke Rooftop Frames

The Challenge

As part of the office redevelopment, a number of heavy building services were required to be installed onto the rooftop. The customer faced the challenge of sourcing suitable support frames that would safely accommodate these units while ensuring the load was evenly distributed across the roof, a task they assigned to Kernow.

The Solution

Given the weights involved, our technical team recommended a siFRAMO modular frame, valued for its high strength relative to its weight and its suitability for supporting heavy loads without the penetrating the roof. Working closely with the customer, we handled the load calculations and frame design to ensure each unit would be fully supported.

Kernow supplied all components required for on-site assembly of the frame. Each item was carefully labelled and packaged to ensure clear identification and efficient installation.
Non-penetrative feet were also provided to support effective load distribution while protecting the rooftop membrane.

Anchor Selection

The project also required building services to be suspended from hollow-core slab ceilings. The concrete anchors used to support these services were specifically required to have a minimum fire rating of 120 minutes, which significantly limited the range of suitable products.

Following a site visit and preliminary pull tests, we supplied a hollow-core ceiling anchor with published fire and performance data specifically for this substrate. This provided verifiable evidence that this solution was suitable for the application and would perform reliably, giving the customer confidence in the long-term safety and compliance of the installation.

Thermal Expansion

The building contained extensive runs of Chilled Water (CHW) and Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) pipework, which meant thermal expansion had to be accounted for. Kernow’s technical team handled the expansion calculations and design, supplying all necessary products to complete the system.

Regular Site Deliveries

Located in central London, the project faced the usual inner city delivery challenges. The site was busy and had a small unloading area, so it operated a strict “book-in” system. With continuous deliveries arriving on site throughout the day, it was essential that allocated book-in times were adhered to.

Our London distribution depot has extensive experience handling book in deliveries, servicing multiple sites every day. Our team worked closely with the site to ensure every delivery arrived precisely on schedule.

This meant the customer could plan effectively and enabled the project to remain firmly on track.

Conclusion

This project presented challenges that are commonplace in refurbishing older buildings, particularly in London. With decades of specialist knowledge and experience, Kernow provided the insight and solutions needed to overcome these complexities and keep the project moving smoothly.

As always, early engagement and close collaboration helped ensure the customer received the right solutions on time.

If you’re working on a project with complex requirements, Kernow can provide the expertise and support to help it succeed.

Get in touch to learn more, or visit our pre-fab page and watch our showcase video.