ON SITE
Breaking Taboos The demolition division of the O’Keefe Group of Companies has devised a unique solution to a façade retention challenge in the shadow of the Tower of London. Demolition editor Mark Anthony is suitably impressed.
Anyone that watched the recent BBC TV series Taboo starring Tom Hardy will be familiar with the ruthlessness with which the Honourable East India Company went about its business. It would surprise no-one to learn that an archaeological dig beneath the former London premises of a company that once accounted for half the world’s trade unearthed a number of bodies. While the company that would eventually come to own great swathes of the Indian subcontinent ceased trading in 1874, at least one demolition company is still feeling its influence.
and the Walkie Talkie building just around the corner. Located in a conservation area, Walsingham House lies opposite the Grade I listed St Olave’s Church and adjoins a four-star hotel. The area is steeped in history, and although archaeological investigations are ongoing, finding are expected to include sections of a Roman road and structural elements from the 13th, 16th and 17th centuries.
The building is being transformed into modern and much-needed office space by main contractor ISG. New piled foundations will enable the construction of a Steeped in History steel frame structure, adding two Walsingham House in Trinity additional floors to the existing Square is located amidst one of eight-storey building and creating London’s most popular tourist nearly 50 per cent more internal areas. It is flanked by the Tower of office space to provide a net London and Tower Bridge and falls internal area of more than 6,000 beneath the imposing shadows m2. cast by The Shard across the river,
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