Measom Dryline have just completed the Embankment West project with Sir Robert McAlpine in Salford, Manchester for Select Property Group. This was a mixed development of an apart hotel tower block and two luxury apartment blocks. We were responsible for various elements of work throughout the project. Across the schemes we completed our usual work which was the full drylining package and plastering including the walls and ceilings, ensuring that we were working to the full British Gypsum specsure standard. In addition to that, we were responsible for the SFS & sheathing board, VCL layer positioning and the installation of the bathroom pods, Soffit insulation, acoustic corridor ceilings and fire rated riser doors.
Work began in October 2019 and was completed in June 2021. This meant that the project was delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic which required all staff to adapt and adhere to the unfamiliar changes that were being made to the workplace. Although progress was halted for 2 weeks due to lockdown restrictions, we were able to resume work under the new COVID guidelines with no health and safety issues on both schemes. We managed to get operatives back on site promptly and working safely alongside other contractors and had approximately 300-400 people on site each day.
The Embankment West project involved the construction of one apart hotel tower block (City Suites 2) and two luxury apartment blocks (Laurence Place and Exchange Point). Although generally both schemes required similar drylining and plastering work, they were large and elaborate schemes that had different specifications. For more information about the work we carried out on City Suites 2, read more here.
We delivered 2 luxury apartment blocks, Laurence Place and Exchange Point. Laurence Place is an 18-storey residential tower block with an amenity area consisting of approximately 209nr mixed luxury apartments including 1, 2, 3 bed and duplex apartments. Exchange Point is a 16-storey residential tower block with an amenity area consisting of approximately 150nr luxury apartments including 1, 2, 3 and 4 bed apartments.
The scope of works we carried out across these blocks were:
- Metsec SFS
- External British gypsum glassroc X sheathing board & rockwool cavity insulation
- Obex cortex EPDM & Novia VCL
- Positioning & installation of the large bathroom pods
- Soffit insulation
- Partitions – Party walls/ shaftwalls & internal partitions
- Ceilings – MF & Lay-in grid
- Plastering
- Acoustic corridor ceilings
- Fire rated riser doors & access hatches
The apartment blocks are situated adjacent to live railway tracks which presented us with a couple of logistical and health and safety challenges. Working next to an active railway line meant that works in the mast climber had to be extremely well coordinated and planned daily to ensure they were carried out safely.
The reception and amenity areas consist of a ceiling made up of British Gypsum Quattro acoustic boards with pre-formed holes. Constructing this required precision as all the boards had to match up perfectly and then be taped and jointed to achieve a seamless finish.
The duplex apartments are spilt into two floors consisting of two bedrooms, one bathroom, one kitchen and a large living space. Due to this, an expansion joint has been placed in the middle to stop movement and the walls from cracking.
In addition, there were some fire-rated sliding pocket doors where the door slides completely into the wall. These doors are not typically fire rated and to deliver the needed fire ratings, we had to form a sealed unit in the shaft wall system with fire rated seals. We also delivered a continuous fire rated wall abutting to sliding door wall that had recesses formed at floor & ceiling level to receive recess lights, this had to the house light control systems behind the wall yet remain fire rated.
“Schemes of this extent throw up the usual challenges and demands to ensure they are delivered successfully, however having to deal with this in a pandemic and throwing in the COVID-19 restrictions and circumstances no doubt brought about additional pressures and challenges, that the whole Measom management team and operatives have dealt with fantastically, and the quality of product delivered is testament to the efforts and passion of every single one of them.
The excellent working relationship we have developed with the Sir Robert McAlpine team on site has been a huge contributing factor in the success of this scheme being delivered, and I would like to thank them for this opportunity to play an integral part in this scheme and look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Luke Carrigan, Project Manager, Measom
Measom Dryline are delighted with the work we have delivered with Sir Robert McAlpine throughout this project and would like to thank everyone involved.