ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
The glazed cladding panels have had a powerfully positive effect on how the lift has been perceived and welcomed by visitors to the cathedral .
its medieval heritage ; reconfiguration of an existing 17th-century staircase to create space for the lift shaft ; a new mezzanine floor and staircase ; and the installation of a Stannah passenger lift , which is the first in the UK to travel through a vaulted stone ceiling .
The lift shaft and car incorporated bespoke glass cladding where possible , featuring an interlayer of bronze mesh between the laminated glass panels that enhanced safety and complemented the colour palette throughout the cathedral . Stannah also crafted unique lift landing doors from the same type of glass , providing passengers with illuminated panoramic views as they ascend and descend the South Transept .
The thoughtful design complements the cathedral perfectly . The glazed cladding panels have had a powerfully positive effect on how the lift has been perceived and welcomed by visitors to the cathedral .
The Challenge
The introduction of a lift to provide step-free access to the Morley Library in the South Transept was especially complex , both in terms of design and installation .
Firstly , being a place of worship meant that the cathedral had to remain open for the duration of the work , requiring a carefully planned approach to health and safety . Noise levels , too , had to be kept within agreed levels during the works to avoid disturbing visitors .
This meant that it was not practical to use mechanical excavating equipment to create the lift pit . This had to be carefully excavated using hand tools , initially by the cathedral archaeologist working alone , and in the final stages by a team working under his supervision .
The excavation revealed the original , eleventh-century footings of the walls and piers of this part of the cathedral , down to the level of the top of the piles that had been driven into the soft ground at the start of construction in 1079 . A surface of flints in mortar 400mm below the present pavement was identified as a temporary working surface created during the construction of the Norman cathedral . Two exploratory boreholes were drilled in order to investigate the strata below the level of the actual lift pit .
PAGE 113 - ARCHETECH