“ A lot of the work was also undertaken out of hours during evenings and weekends so as not to disrupt the sitting of the House of Lords and House of Commons .”
SCAPE Consultancy is fully OJEUcompliant procurement route that brings together the strongest collaborative team with value for money , while contributing substantially to local social value .
Victoria Brambini , managing director of Perfect Circle , said : “ We are delighted to have been involved in such a prestigious project to restore certain elements of one of Britain ’ s most iconic buildings , which has played a central role in our country ’ s history .”
Mark Robinson , SCAPE chief executive , added : “ After almost a millennium of service , it takes extreme diligence , skill and care to give a building like Westminster Hall the restoration it deserves . The expert guidance and consultation that Perfect Circle has provided to support this highquality project is befitting of this unique building that contains volumes of British history .
“ The refurbishment of the public estate , including that at the very highest end of government , will play an important role in enabling the nation ’ s economic recovery . This project is an outstanding example of how it can be accelerated through the use of a framework that promotes collaboration and a collective effort to deliver outstanding project results .”
For more information on Perfect Circle , please visit www . perfectcircle . co . uk .
“ Now the repair and restoration of the lantern is complete , the temporary crash deck has been removed , which has once again opened up its true magnificence to all walking through the hall .”
Westminster Hall ’ s grand roof , which was commissioned by Richard II in 1393 , is the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe . It is home to 13 oak hammer-beams , weighing some 660 tonnes , that were largely manufactured off site and transported to Westminster by barges and horse-drawn wagons for assembly .
Gary said : “ When essential repairs and cleaning were being carried out on the roof , 360 litres of dust was removed from each roof truss . A fully automated fire detection and voice-activated alarm system was also installed as part of the works . The equipment has been obscured from view – remaining sympathetic to the traditional design but updating the technology to suit modern standards and safety requirements .”
Part of the project ’ s vision was for Westminster Hall to remain open to the public throughout the construction works , subject to closures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ One of the biggest challenges was to maintain health and safety and the operational requirements of the hall so the public wasn ’ t inconvenienced by the works ,” said Gary .
“ This involved installing large vinyl canvases that included photos of the windows before the temporary , complex scaffolding was put up . Not only did these cover up the supporting framework but , as lots of tourists visit the hall , it meant they could still experience the oldest parts of Westminster rather than seeing a construction site . www . refurbandrestore . co . uk - 69