Issue 46 April 25 web - Flipbook - Page 31
ASWS deconstructs listed
façade to 120 Fleet Street in
unique enablement exercise
As the UK’s leading specialist in the repair and replication of metal window systems, Associated Steel
Window Services (ASWS) was brought in by a long term client to carefully dismantle, catalogue
and store all of the components to the listed façade of the Former Daily Express Building. This
was done in order to facilitate the demolition of its later extension, together with the much wider
redevelopment of the landmark London site.
The contract on 120 Fleet Street is the latest in series of
high-profile projects where ASWS has provided its
unique enablement service on behalf of demolition specialist, Erith. Previous collaborations have included the
nearby 11 Pilgrim Street, 25 Lavington Street, and
Olympia, as well as the famous Whiteleys department
store.
The City of London Corporation, in October 2021,
approved the plans for a new 21-storey office-led development and rejuvenation of the Grade II listed former
newspaper headquarters at 120 Fleet Street, being led by
CO-RE. The art deco Daily Express building will be
transformed into a publicly accessible cultural destination
with social and educational outreach.
The Operations Director for ASWS, Kris Bennell,
explained some of the stages involved in overcoming multiple challenges at 120 Fleet Street, saying: “Once we
got the call from Erith our survey team not only
photographed the entire 200m2 façade of black Vitrolite
glass panelling, but also took precise measurements from
a datum before compiling very detailed CAD drawings
which will allow us to precisely re-assemble the bracketry
and frontage when the new structural work is complete.”
