The Art of Design Issue 23 2016 | Page 92

92 History in the heart of Whitehall protected with the help of Selectaglaze Banqueting House, Whitehall, lies in the heart of the tourist trail with the likes of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey a short walk away. Inigo Jones designed the current Banqueting House in 1619 - 1622 after its predecessor was destroyed by fire. It has hosted many important state events and stood witness as James I was executed outside of the building, on a temporary scaffold built for the occasion. Banqueting house is managed and cared for by Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity which has been restoring and repairing the stunning Grade I building. Security was a key concern during planning, along with reducing the noise from the busy Whitehall thoroughfare. Royal Warrant Holder Selectaglaze was sought to provide an alternative solution to the current blast net curtains covering the windows, that not only met the specification but was also an unobtrusive adaptation. Installing the secondary glazed units provided an interesting challenge as half the openings were at upper gallery level 10m above the main floor. The gallery could not be loaded. Working very closely with Gardner & Theobold, structural engineers Hockley & Dawson and Royal Warrant holding scaffolders Allen and Foxworthy, a careful method of installation was devised involving a columnar scaffolding design complete with lifting apparatus to each opening. In all, 39 units were installed, allowing daylight to once again flood the main hall. As well as offering blast protection and noise insulation in access of 45dB, the secondary glazing also provides essential UV filtering to the Thomson Specification approved by the National Gallery, V&A and others. For further information, please contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271/e mail: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk www.hotel-tech.com Cutting Edge Design for your Hotel Guest Rooms Visit www.hotel-tech.com for smarter hotel technology Tel: +44 (0) 203 405 1200 Email: sales@hotel-tech.com