Project: Hanover Square, London, UK
Type: Setting Out
Client: FM Conway
Borough: City of Westminster, London
Introduction
The Hanover Square Public Realm Scheme was a complex and demanding project undertaken by TopoCrew in collaboration with FM Conway. Located in Hanover Square, London, UK, the project encompassed the reconstruction of the square garden area and civil works in the surrounding streets. This case study highlights the challenges faced, the approach taken, and the key individuals involved in achieving successful outcomes.
Challenges and Approach
The initial phase focused on the complete reconstruction of the inner gardens: new track area, pavement, field, playground, sanitary block, greenery, furniture, retaining wall and surrounding fence and gates.
Among the diversity of works, two particularly challenging operations stood out. The first was installing the 220 prefabricated gate elements on 5 different category renovated foundations. This wasn’t as smooth as it could be, because of an unreliable topographic survey done by a third party and which was used to design and fit all the gate elements. On contractor’s request, we had to urgently step up, and do a new topographic survey, providing a high quality CAD drawing to aid the geometric positioning and fix the alignment issues. Having resolved issues on the drawing board, the only thing remaining was an accurate setting out of the gate pieces which ensured smooth installation works.
The second exciting operation was the construction of the solid granite retaining wall on the southern side of the play field. The wall was curved, sloped and of varying heights and units which all together also served as a bench on the lower ends. The foundation had 24 steps to allow the 56 different size granite units to form a seamless smoothly transitioning curve. The granite units were lifted and positioned to their correct location and level one by one, so we really need to give credit to the setting out engineer and the construction team for their patience and effort in achieving this difficult operation, which really stands out from the rest of the works.
The next phase of the project was the civils work around the gardens area and surroundings. It involved road and footpath construction, utility management, installation of high-velocity impact protection (HVM) bollards, and street furniture placement. Careful monitoring of gradient directions was necessary and we managed to identify every problematic area and provide solutions to avoid any ponding issues.
For the rest of the project, the team focused on setting out all details as per the design. High level of communication among all parties was crucial. Our site engineers gave clear explanations of setting out markings to the masons. The collaboration between the site team and the design department was instrumental in overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
Key People
The success of the Hanover Square Public Realm Scheme can be attributed to key individuals such as:
Akos Fekete (Senior Site Engineer - TopoCrew)
Zsolt Monostori (Head of Operations - TopoCrew)
Ionut Istrati (Contracts Manager - FM Conway)
Derek Sampson (Senior Contracts Manager - FM Conway)
Patrick Fogarty (Associate - WSP)
Matt Cerrone (Senior Project Manager - FM Conway)
Their expertise, attention to detail, and effective communication played a vital role in navigating challenges and finding optimal solutions throughout the project.
Conclusion
The Hanover Square Public Realm Scheme exemplifies TopoCrew's ability to identify and address issues effectively, maintain clear communication with the client, and find optimal solutions, whether minor or major. By approaching each challenge with precision and collaborative problem-solving, the team successfully completed the project to the client's satisfaction. This case study highlights the importance of skilled professionals, meticulous planning, and open communication channels in overcoming complex project requirements. TopoCrew's commitment to delivering exceptional results is showcased through the successful execution of the Hanover Square Public Realm Scheme.