Location: BFI IMAX, London
Client: The British Film Institute
Project: High-Level Glass Replacement & Access Solution
Project Overview
The BFI IMAX in London is home to the UK’s largest cinema screen and one of the country’s most prominent advertising hoardings. However, spontaneous glass breakage posed a serious safety risk, leading to an emergency response from the London Fire Brigade. To ensure public safety, the fire crew removed two damaged panels and temporarily boarded up the affected area.
During our initial survey, we also identified that access to the roof had been boarded up due to storm damage, requiring a new hatch installation to restore safe entry.
Challenges
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Complex Location & Traffic Management:
The cinema is situated on a busy roundabout at the foot of Waterloo Bridge, directly outside one of London’s busiest train stations. This high-traffic area required meticulous planning in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL) to ensure minimal disruption. -
Strict Time Constraints:
To avoid major disruption to commuters and traffic, all work had to be completed overnight, between midnight on Sunday and 6 AM on Monday.
Solution
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Extensive Planning & Coordination:
Several weeks of preparation were required to secure lane closures, plan traffic management, and coordinate logistics for the high-level glazing replacement. -
Specialist Access Solutions:
A scaffold was constructed inside the building to assist with the replacement works, ensuring safe and efficient handling of the glass panels. -
Precision Execution:
Traffic management was set up late on Sunday evening, and the team worked precisely to the planned schedule, ensuring all works were completed before the Monday morning rush.
Results
- Three high-level glass panels were successfully replaced.
- A new roof access hatch was installed to improve long-term maintenance and safety.
- The project was executed flawlessly, demonstrating the power of careful planning and expert coordination in a challenging urban environment.
This project highlights our expertise in delivering complex glazing solutions in high-traffic, time-sensitive environments while ensuring the highest safety standards.
