Pendock delivers towering performance for St. Barts project
When an architectural practice, which has established an international reputation through its involvement with huge sports stadia and other major public venues, is chosen to replace a famous London hospital, it can be no surprise that the redevelopment contains some stunning spaces. Nor that the project team has to call on the services of specialist suppliers such as Pendock Limited to help give the world renowned consultancy’s designs substance and style.
HOK was selected by Skanska Innisfree to create the new St. Bartholomew’s and The Royal London Hospitals, which will serve as a specialist centre for the treatment of cancer and cardiac cases, as well as offering tertiary care for patients from across the capital. As a result, specialist sub-contractor Houston Cox Eastern completed the installation of 69 different casings – varying in length from 2,7 up to 7.1 metres – within corridors, waiting rooms and administration areas; as well as finishing the erection of four imposing pilasters rising 17.8 metres to the glazed roof of the central atrium.
Most strikingly, one of the quartet had to incorporate vertical strip-lighting, which helps mark the position of a glazed staircase linking the atrium floor with a mezzanine level. Well known in the construction industry for the supply of column casings and other types of moulding, Pendock was awarded the contract to supply the collection of bespoke units, which would conceal the heavyweight stanchions supporting the glazed roof and other elements to the 65,000 sq. ft. St. Barts medical facility.
Prior to full manufacturer beginning, Pendock undertook the fabrication and assembly of a full size replica to one of the quartet of columns at its premises in Telford. This allowed the Skanska and Houston Cox project teams to assess the visual impact of their designs, while construction work on the site in the heart of the City was still in its early stages.
Depending on their location the column casings were finished in either a Soft White or Grey Dust Gloss colour, while the recessed shadow gaps, which sub-divide the columns are in Soft White or Folkestone Matt. At the bottom of each column is a collar fabricated from Grade 304 grit polished stainless steel. The value of Pendock’s contract for the design, manufacture and delivery of the high quality column casings was £97,000.
