Conservation & Heritage Issue 49 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 94
“In addition, because of Olympia’s historic nature, there
were many elements of the work which required careful
dismantling and storage as well as conservation, which
is where ASWS helped us greatly. Over the same period,
aside from dismantling and cataloguing the canopy, their
team removed a number of heritage windows and repaired
louvres along with other work. They were very responsive
throughout, and, without doubt, they have very good
supervisors as well as skilled tradesmen.”
drawings so that we will have all the necessary tools for
its reinstatement. We have further produced reports and
advised on methodologies throughout the project.”
Kris Bennell, Contracts Director for ASWS, confirmed,
“Initially on Kensington Olympia we created documents to
assist in planning permission and pricing, which allowed
the Conservation Officer to approve an acceptable method
statement for dismantling the 60-metre-long canopy.”
ASWS is a long-established member of the Steel Window
Association and well recognised expert in the repair of
metal windows, from the earliest wrought iron examples
through to contemporary curtain walling. The family run
business is frequently called upon to prepare condition
surveys during the appraisal stages of a project, which then
become part of the planning or listed building permission
process. The company also maintains a very large stock of
ironmongery and metal frame components to assist in its
restoration work.
“It was in 2021 when Erith asked us to cost for the
careful dismantling and storage of the copper canopy to
enable the façade retention works, including the erection
of scaffold support. Over the past three years we have
removed the multi-layered canopy from its timber frame
over four separate stages, creating scans and updating
Originally opened in 1886 as an agricultural arena,
Olympia was extended and later converted to be one of
the country’s biggest exhibition spaces. The current £1.3
Billion redevelopment includes offices and the creation of
the capital’s first new theatre since the seventies.
For more information on ASWS, please visit asws.co.uk.
Above, the Olympia the exhibition hall in London
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