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.
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ENGINEER: ARUP
ARCHITECT: GENSLER