Bloomberg Media Centre

  • Materials: GRG & Fibrous
  • Project Title: Bloomberg, London
  • Sector: Commercial
  • Architect: Foster & Partners
  • Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine
  • Service: Bespoke
  • Scope of Work: Atrium Bulkheads
  • Project Value: £1m
  • Size of Project: 1000sqm

 

Our work at the Bloomberg Media building in London consisted of the design, manufacture, and installation of GRG sections curved in profile and elliptically shaped atrium bulkheads. There are three different-sized profiles over seven floors manufactured to numerous different sizes, with the two smallest profiles being removable, allowing access to services. This project had a myriad of key challenges, such as achieving the complex elliptical shape that twisted up the building. We also prefinished all panels in our workshop and then supplied them to the site and had to develop a fixing system to securely suspend each panel in position with the use of bespoke bracketry.

The GRG elements were designed to be pre-finished in a metal effect bespoke paint finish, off-site prior to delivery. Usually, panels are able to be finished on site but due to the pre-finished requirements, the setting up of mould sizes, strike-offs, and casting had to be perfect. This meant that each GRG panel had to come out of the mould blemish free and ready to paint to deliver the required flawless finish.

When installing panels, they had to align with 10mm flash gaps in glass balustrading above and 10mm flash gaps in metal pan ceilings below. This was tricky to achieve due to the curved profile and elliptical shape. We had to ensure our measurements during the design process of each panel and the fixings were placed exactly in the right place to ensure we delivered the satisfying in-line design that was the architect’s intent.

“Bloomberg was a challenging project due to the prefinished elements. There was no room for error, which is unusual compared to other projects where GRG can be finished on site. As a team, we rose to the challenge and believe this project shows our incredible capabilities.”

– Robert Shand

Once installed, there was a requirement that the smallest bulkhead be removable to easily enable access if required. To achieve this, we designed and developed a bespoke bracketry and channel system to work with the concrete tolerances, enabling maintenance access behind the panels with minimal disruption or damage to the work.

Our work at the Bloomberg Media Centre demonstrates the versality and performance of GRG when developed, manufactured, and installed by expert craftsmen such as ourselves.