Project Progress Update: Warwick House, London
In our latest project update, Starfish Construction's Senior Project Manager, Robert Morgan, provides a progress report on Warwick House in Wimbledon, one of our London Residential Façade replacement projects. Our integrated divisions have worked closely and tirelessly to ensure the project is on track and meets our exacting standards.
Façade Remediation Project Inception
As the single-source principal contractor on the project, we carried out an assessment of the client's specifications for Warwick House. We emphasise robust technical surveying, planning, and design, all conducted in-house, to deliver the information and strategy to ensure the highest standards and strict adherence to our methodology.
With an expected completion timeframe of 35 weeks, this project undertaking will transform the residential block. The project scope includes:
- Designing a bespoke access and scaffolding system, including a raised gantry with a site office and store, directly delivered by Starfish Access Services
- Remove and replace the existing 510m² of brickwork, including sheathing board, all membranes, brick channels and ties, DPCs, fire breaks, and insulation
- 360M² of render system removed and replaced
- 145M² of replacement timber cladding with aluminium cladding system
- Replacement spandrel panels and decking
As the principal contractor and designer for the project, we manage all aspects of project delivery and work in close partnership with all project stakeholders. Our procedures, comprehensive online systems, and applications drive a culture of single-point contact and open communications.
Robert Morgan, Senior Project Manager at Starfish Construction, expressed his deep appreciation for the team's resilience in the face of project constraints: "Our ability to adapt to project-specific restraints while maintaining high standards of safety and quality has been crucial. Having our in-house Access and Scaffolding Division has been pivotal in the setup of this project. Using a gantry site office to create a safe and secure off-road compound while allowing the continued underground car park access during works was very innovative. The Residents Hub is crucial in communicating with owners and occupiers, keeping them updated with all project stages and any property access requirements. It's an innovative and forward-thinking platform for residential projects."
Innovative Design and Access Build
The in-house Access and Scaffolding Division at Starfish Construction Group, Starfish Access Services (SAS), ensures we design and manage all installation elements with precision and safety, adhering to our and the industry’s strict Health and Safety standards. Due to minimal space around the site's perimeter, the project required a creative scaffolding plan, and maintaining resident access to the underground car park was critical.
Due to the Minimal lay-down and welfare space available, we have built a large scaffold gantry above the car park ramp, which contains all site welfare and some extra storage space. A crane was required to lift our site office into position on the gantry, which required planning to minimise disruption to road use on this tight and busy residential street.
Due to a nearby school, which resulted in heavy foot traffic through the site location, we provided a safe walkway for pedestrians and pupils, including taking deliveries only after 9 a.m. and before 3 p.m. This measure ensures the safety of the school community and demonstrates our commitment to being a responsible contractor and the local community.
Overcoming Project Challenges
All Urban projects bring unique challenges, and Warwick House was no exception. The Starfish Construction team faced and expertly navigated several obstacles:
- Busy High Street Road Location: Managing deliveries during off-peak hours to minimise disruption
- Inflexible Space: Employing just-in-time deliveries to limit disruption to residents and road users.
- Occupied Apartments: Keeping residents safe and informed throughout with our Residents Hub Portal, a centralised platform that provides regular updates, work schedules, and a forum for residents to ask questions and share feedback. This communication tool has been instrumental in maintaining a transparent and collaborative relationship with the residents.
Current Onsite Progress
The project is advancing steadily and to scheduled programmes, with significant milestones already achieved:
- Design drawings have been issued for final approval with the client and consultants
- The scaffold gantry is fully complete, including crane lift of welfare unit
- The site setup is fully complete
- Phase 1 scaffolding is underway.
We look forward to sharing further progress and celebrating the successful completion of Warwick House and other projects UK-wide.
