SCOPE OF WORK

The Knightsbridge Palace Hotel, on the site of the former Normandie Hotel in the heart of Knightsbridge will provide six floors of deluxe hotel suites, and four floors of private apartments. There are six basement levels, including dining, a ballroom, offices, and two floors consisting of a gym and pool and plant room. Byrne Bros was awarded in Feb 2010 sub and superstructure contract by Prime Development Limited and to be managed by Sir Robert McAlpine as the CM for the site start in April 2010 as piling works were completed.

Byrne Bros spent the months prior to work starting utilizing the tender 3D model to plan the works in detail. The site layout and location presented the Project Team with major challenges. The site footprint is only 1,100m², with one access to the main road for vehicle lay-by and one very limited access to the rear. The 3D model has proved a valuable tool to plan the works at a daily level. The structural constraints had to be understood in detail as WSP had under direction from PDL value engineered where ever possible the design prior to Byrne Bros finalising the construction sequence.

The concurrent top-down construction means that the early superstructure floors have to be built in phases to allow excavation to proceed in parallel and with due consideration through temporary and permanent works design improvements to de-risk the programme to allow overlaps in activities. Byrne Bros have slipformed the main core and are using precast columns and stairs where possible and within the capability of the limited cranage.