Prater delivers complete external envelope to BBC Television Centre revamp
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January 17, 2019
Prater has been involved in the five-year redevelopment of the BBC Television Centre in White City, London. Re-opened in April 2018, the large scope of works delivered by Prater included the entire external envelope, hot melt monolithic membrane, cappings and man safe latchway.
The refurbishment of the iconic BBC Television Centre has transformed the site into a mixed-use development, made up of offices and studio space for the BBC – alongside more than 900 flats, entertainment and leisure facilities, public open space and even a hotel, all overlooking Hammersmith Park. The vibrant 17-acre complex aims to create a new destination in West London for life, work and leisure.
An eco-conscious design, the development features a ‘green’ sedum roof, providing an insulating layer to keep heat in during winter and let out cool air by evaporation in the summer. This has led to the project being awarded an ‘excellent’ rating under BREEAM.
Prater was appointed to deliver the entire external envelope to all plots: A, B, C and the BBC Studio.
Prater’s extensive scope of works included hot melt monolithic membrane, BEMO standing seam, cladding, cappings, and a mansafe latchway. Early engagement and continued collaboration with the supply chain throughout the entire build process enabled efficient methods of construction, alongside smart business solutions and innovative new delivery programmes.
Being in the centre of London, the site was a constricted space and required the entire supply chain to co-ordinate schedules – reducing congestion and the risk of health and safety issues. Prater’s strategy included the ‘Just In Time’ approach to ensure small and frequent deliveries of materials aligned with production schedules. This reduced on-site traffic and kept the project running smoothly and efficiently in a busy London environment.
“We are thrilled to have been a part of this landmark redevelopment of White City and the redesigned headquarters of the BBC,” commented associate operations director at Prater, Pat McMahon. “The busy London site did pose potential challenges. However, by encouraging regular communication with our supply chain, right from the very beginning, we have been able to successfully align the logistics strategy and mitigate any potential issues.”
