90 LONGACRE.
TRANSFORMING A LANDMARK: A RETROFIRST APPROACH.
CLIENT: PLATFORM
STATUS: COMPLETE
LOCATION: COVENT GARDEN
The Acre is a 260,000 sqft transformation of the iconic 90 Long Acre in the heart of London’s culture and theatre district.
The Acre, nestled in Covent Garden, is a complex of buildings dating back to 1981, comprising several interconnected grids ranging from four to eight storeys, with basement levels serving as a car park. We were tasked with extensive refurbishment, including demolishing five units and infilling the space with three new reinforced concrete structures intricately linked to the existing building.
Retro-first Demolition: The building has undergone a complex retro-first demolition with innovative temporary works. such as ‘big yellow props’ and underpinning, were essential to maintaining stability. Retaining over 80% of the original structure, designed to reduce the embodied carbon by half compared with previous build proposals.
Streamlined Construction Process: Our innovative approach decluttered workfronts, shortened the construction timeline, and optimised crane usage, enhancing overall project efficiency.
Reduced Environmental Impact: By slashing embodied carbon in temporary works and maximising the reuse of props, the project exemplified sustainability in construction, aligning with the RetroFirst ethos.
Innovative Solutions for Stability: We devised a radical scheme to simplify demolition and construction, reducing horizontal propping to a single level. Utilising rooftop-mounted cranes, the project streamlined operations, minimised interruptions, and dramatically reduced embodied carbon in temporary works.
ENGINEER: ARUP
ARCHITECT: GENSLER