Following an assessment of Network Rail’s portfolio of buildings, One Puddle Dock, adjacent to the busy Blackfriars station, was identified as requiring refurbishment. Gratte Brothers was appointed to undertake the Shell and Core Cat A Fit Out.
Situated on the land of the old Puddle Dock, the site was significantly increased with advent of the 1960s foreshore reclamation. The client now sought to reclaim some light and space within the inefficient 1970s concrete edifice.
Gratte Brothers was instructed for both the M&E services, along with a Security package for the building. Works included but were not limited to: fan coil systems, ventilation, Air Handling Units, new LED lighting, new rising bus bars and associated cabling. To suit the industrial nature of the building’s exterior all installations were to be surface fixed.
The chief test of the installation, appropriately for a network rail building, was the constant rail and commuter traffic running through Blackfriars railway station. There could be no interruption to either. Routing and storage of deliveries in particular received special attention from Gratte Brothers Safety1st scheme.
To avoid further interruption to the exposed services themselves, consistent Labour Management was required to ensure similar treatment of containment and ductwork, in order that ceiling runs would not be spoilt.
