Garrod Building, QMUL
The Grade II listed Garrod Building in Whitechapel was formerly the library of the Royal London Hospital – a Victorian building with significant history.
The scale of the internal changes required meant over 90 steel beams being installed to free up and reconfigure the layout. Even the former cells were brought back into use as offices. New mezzanine floors were added to the two former courtrooms, a new central staircase was constructed in the main entrance lobby, and a new passenger lift was installed to bring the building up to DDA standards. The former Clerk’s house – a separate building on the site – was extended and refurbished. The existing double-hung sash windows were fully overhauled, the external façade was cleaned and the grounds were landscaped.
Old buildings have a habit of hiding surprises, and this one was no different. Once we opened things up, we came across a number of unexpected issues that needed solutions, including getting services through the existing fabric of the building. We worked closely with the design team at each stage to find solutions that kept the project on programme and within budget, rather than letting problems become delays. The dedication of the whole team – on site and across the project – made the difference.
The dedication of our on-site team and the combined effort by all parties created a modern business centre that is significant in the regeneration of Grays.
