Haywood House – Open Platform Lift with Bespoke Mesh

We were approached by Rio Architects who were looking at adding a platform lift to the main entrance of Haywood House in Cardiff city centre. The 3 storey office building is located just off Dumfries Place. The platform lift would offer step free access to the ground floor and via the passenger lift to the first and second floor. Split levels are common through commercial buildings across the UK and finding a suitable solution that reflects the rest of the design can be difficult. We offer a wide range of customisable solutions for this type of project. Whether its a specific panel deign, bespoke site colour or push button controls we can create the perfect solution thats in keeping with its surroundings.

We worked with Rio during their Stage 3 + 4 design to create a solution that would incorporate the same mesh being used throughout the building and reflect the industrial refurbishment to the office building. The original design incorporated a pit however during excavation works a void was found beneath the stairs so this option could not be used. We proposed an alternative solution which would fix to the wall and requires no pit. The benefit of this option is that the lift comes with a small ramp in lieu of a pit and only requires structural support to one side of the platform. This support can be in the form of a masonry wall however for this particular project two steel supports were fixed behind the plasterboard providing a clean finish.

The platform lift at Haywood House travels a total of 600mm between the two levels and features a 1100mm x 1400mm platform. The same mesh finish is included on the platform as well as the landing gate. All visible surfaces were then powder-coated in matte RAL 9005 to match the surrounding railings and accents of the reception area.

Hidden Platform Lift at Broadwalk House, Exeter

We were approached by Cartwright Pickard architects who were designing the refurbishment at Broadwalk House in Exeter. The refurbishment would comprise of a completely new fit out creating break out spaces on the ground floor and redesigning office space on the floors above. With access tight around the reception of the building there was not enough space for a traditional platform lift therefore the only option was for a hidden wheelchair lift. Our hidden lifts have several benefits for both designers and users. For designers, the lifts take up less space than traditional platform lifts and the design is much more sympathetic on the overall building design. For users, the platform can be accessed from any side and with no gates to open the lift can be used easier and more quickly than a traditional platform lift.

This traversing lift provides access from the main reception into the large breakout area and is fitted with our goalpost on platform controls. This allows complete user independence, they simply press and hold the desired direction of travel. In addition, remote control key fobs are kept at reception so that staff members can use and prepare the lifts for any visitors. We worked with WFC contractors, specialists in leisure industry fit out and construction projects, to deliver this project. At the request of the architect we also included detachable stainless steel handrails, these handrails can easily be manoeuvred into position by one person. For this project the vertical travel was 325mm and horizontal travel was 500mm. Our hidden lifts have a maximum vertical travel of 830mm and a maximum horizontal travel of 900mm so can be used on steps and stairwells much larger than this example. The lift was finished with terrazzo tiles and brushed stainless steel floor trims, blending the lift in seamlessly with its surroundings.

Laystall Street – Hidden Platform Lift

We were approached by Peldon Rose, a main contractor based in London, who were carrying out a refurbishment on Laystall Street in Farringdon. They were redeveloping the 5 storey commercial office and required a hidden lift in the ground floor reception area. The hidden cantilever lift would allow wheelchair users to reach the passenger lift and access all floors of the building. The hidden lift raises 280mm and traverses 200mm to meet the top step. It features 100mm roll-off protection on all sides which disappears into the pit when the lift is not in use and the front side lowers when the lift reaches the top step to allow the user to exit the platform. These lifts also feature a 22mm top tray which can be infilled with any material to match the surrounding floor. For this project at 12-16 Laystall Street, the top tray was filled with a concrete resin finish and stainless steel trims were used on the roll-off protection to match the contemporary appearance of the new office space. The lift is fitted with handheld remote controls which are kept with the reception desk.

This project, like many, had a floor below where the lift was installed. In order to support the lift, the main contractor fitted suspended steel beams. Our engineers then fixed the lift's pit tray down into this structural steelwork. All of our hidden lifts come with their own galvanised steel pit trays which are then fixed to the existing structure of the building. The pit trays can be fitted by the contractor prior to the lift installation. This allows the contractor to get the floor levels set and finished even before the lift is installed. The pit required for these lifts is only 155mm so means that they can be installed pretty much anywhere. In addition the pit tray can be fixed along its sides rather than down into steel or concrete therefore reducing the size of any void between the floor level and the below ceiling.

This lift was installed within 5 hours.

Eardley House – Glass Platform Lift

We were approached by 23 Architecture who were designing the redevelopment of Eardley House, a commercial building which is located on the corner of Uxbridge Street and Campden Hill Road in Notting Hill Gate. Eardley house is located close to Holland Park, an area known for its linked to the arts with the Holland Park Circle being home to many notable artists over the years. The redevelopment of site involved excavation below the main body of the building which would create a brand new basement space. The plan was for the basement to be a new studio and gallery space. With this in mind the client needed an accessible way of reaching the new arts space from the street level. The lift specification required a 90º entry layout with a half height automatic door on the upper landing and a full height automatic door on the lower landing. The architect wanted the lift to allow as much light into the space as possible so that it would flood the basement area around the lift with light.

The lift features frameless glass panels on two sides with the upper landing featuring a frameless glass door as well. The lift's upper landing door is linked with the external door so that when a visitor comes to use the lift from street level the lift's door is already open waiting for the user. On the lower floor the lift has a full height fully automatic glass door. The lift's steel upstands as well as the lower level door frame were finished in the same colour as the building's window frames and lighting fixtures. The rest of the basement's stone flooring was continued into the lift producing a seamless finish.

Sovereign House

We were approached by Dovetail Architects who were designing a new commercial office in Basildon, Essex. Sovereign House is located in the industrial area of Basildon, close to the M25, with Central London less than an hour away. The project entailed creating a 28,350 sq ft of office space spread over two floors with 42,500 sq ft of warehousing located to the rear of the building. In the main reception area, Dovetail had included a glass lift to link the ground and first floors. The lift would be a statement to visitors as they walked into the building as well as being a focal point of the reception. The client wanted an ultra-modern design with glass the prominent feature with minimal visible steelwork. The glass would allow all the workings of the lift to be exposed as well as allow light through the reception area.

We worked with Dovetail and Emerson Willis, the main contractor, to come up with a frameless glass structure that would encapsulate the lift. The client opted for glass swing landing doors as they have the maximum amount of glass compared to automatic sliding doors. The door frames were made out of polished stainless steel to reflect the premium finish of the rest of the site. The lift car itself had polished stainless steel framework and a polished stainless steel control panel and rear wall. The materials used in this lift give a modern clean finish that adds to the overall aesthetic of this premium office space. The project was finished in January 2020 in time for Emerson Willis' handover to the client.

To see more similar projects to Sovereign House please click on the following links:

The Base at Greenham

We were approached by Calco Construction, a Newbury based construction company, who we had previously worked with during the construction of a home in Enbourne, Berkshire. Calco builds several luxury homes in the Newbury area as well as the wider South. In addition Calco has undertaken several commercial projects including the construction of The Base during wider renovation works of Greenham Common. Greenham used to be the location of RAF Greenham Common and later US Air Force base during the Cold War. After many years the infamous base was then turned back into public land in the 2000s. Redevelopment works have kickstarted over the last few years with new commercial buildings being built. Calco was responsible for the construction of the new £1.7M building that would house a number of arts and craft installations.

Calco needed a lift at The Base, Greenham that would connect the ground floor where the café and main gallery is located with artist's individual small galleries on 1st floor. The building has an industrial appearance throughout its structure with individual caged artist studios, exposed concrete blocks and no suspended ceilings. The lift cabin features white panelled walls with a half height mirror opposite the lift doors. These features attract light into the lift cabin making the space feel larger than it is. The lift has sliding doors on each floor and is finished with plastic coated steelwork. The advantage of plastic coated steel on an installation like this is that it is less likely to smudge compared with brushed or polished stainless steel. In commercial buildings such as The Base, Greenham with many daily visitors, fingerprints can cause greasy marks and can quickly make the lift look unclean.

The lift installation was finished in time for The Base's grand opening in February 2019.

Platform Lift at Brunel House, Cardiff

Brunel House is situated in Cardiff city centre, 5 minutes away from the main shopping thoroughfares and opposite Cardiff Queen Street Station. The building is one of the largest office blocks in central Cardiff and lends itself to large floor plates across 15 floors with views of the city. Brunel House has tenants such as Legal & General, Admiral, HMRC and Regus. Gpad London headed up the design of the new refurbishment of the entrance and lobby. The largest addition to the building is the fully glazed extension of the entrance allowing light to flood the main entrance. This offers an inviting space to visitors and workers alike. The new lobby features a vibrant café with open plan work and meeting areas. The interior of the building was designed to reflect its industrial nature with bronze and patinated finishes present throughout.

The new design of the entrance and main reception led to a split level lobby. The entrance was made level with the street allowing access for wheelchair users. However this floor level difference created an access problem for wheelchair users between the street entrance and the main reception area. We designed a platform lift with the architect to travel the 1210mm between floors with a platform measuring 1100mm x 1400mm. The platform size offers ample space and the rated load of 400kg allows for even the largest electric mobility buggies. The light and spacious feel of the lobby was reflected in the lift with glass panels and gates giving a modern finish. The lift was installed in time for the main entrance's reopening in December 2017.

Hidden Platform Lift at 200 Gray’s Inn Road

Owned by The Great Ropemaker Partnership, a 50:50 venture between Great Portland Estates plc and Ropemaker Properties Ltd (part of the BP Pension Fund Ltd), 200 Gray’s Inn Road is situated in the heart of the Capital between the City of London and the West End. The area, close to Clerkenwell and St Pancras, is home to a wide range of media and tech companies. Mace were contracted to carry out the refurbishment of the reception and main entrance. We worked with Mace and the architect to discuss the different disabled access options available in the reception area. We decided the best option was to design and install a hidden platform lift. The hidden platform lift would provide disabled access but would disappear into the ground with only the stainless steel trim visible. This type of platform lift is extremely popular in commercial buildings where architects are looking for a continuation of materials and design across a whole project.

The majority of the offices at 200 Gray’s Inn Road is made up of open plan common workspace and several large newsrooms for the occupiers. The lift itself is situated in the centre of the lobby and provides access across the split level lobby design. The lift rises a total of 360mm across the 3 steps in the reception with a traverse of 900mm. The platform measures 1180mm x 1500mm which allows large wheelchair and even electric buggies to use it. The rated load of the hidden platform lift is 385kg. The architect decided to finish the lift with the same stone as the rest of the reception. The reception was opened in October 2018 with additional work on the ground floor being carried out into 2019.

Outdoor Wheelchair Lift for Elm Yard, Elm Street

We were asked by Mace to supply and fit an outdoor wheelchair lift for an office refurbishment that they were contracted for. Elm Yard, owned by The Great Ropemaker Partnership, a 50:50 venture between Great Portland Estates plc and Ropemaker Properties Ltd (part of the BP Pension Fund Ltd), is situated on Elm Street between Gray’s Inn Road and Exmouth Market in central London. The new collaborative workspace boasts over 50,000 sq ft across 12 floors of premium offices in the heart of one of London’s most vibrant districts. Clerkenwell is a stylish area of London with an abundance of creative and technology companies. Office space in the district is usually made up of refurbished Victorian townhouses and industrial warehouses. We met with the Project Manager in order to discuss the different options available. We decided the best option would be an outdoor wheelchair lift on the left hand side of the steps that would provide access to the newly built reception.

Mace wanted the lift to be able to withstand consistent daily use as well as look stylish against the new refurbishment. We chose to install a lift that has three glass sides as well as a glass gate. The prominence of glass matches the reception and gives the lift a very modern look. The structural components of the outdoor wheelchair lift were made out of stainless steel which looks great as well as preventing any rust or damage to the lift over the time. The stainless steel even matches the adjacent hand rails to give a sleek consistent finish. The lift travels over 500mm with platform dimensions of 900mm x 1400mm. Its rated load is 280kg which means it can take even the heaviest of electric buggies.

Platform Lifts at the National Army Museum

We were approached by BDP, the architecture firm responsible for the £23.75 million redevelopment of the National Army Museum in London. They were looking to fit platform lifts within the museum so visitors would be able to access every part of the museum and make full use of the new services. The refurbishment completely modernised the museum and they wanted a trio of platform lifts that would match the new look of the museum. The locations that they needed to fit platform lifts were from the main reception to the education centre, to the Discover More gallery and for staff from outside the building to access the lower basement entrance.

We designed and installed a platform lift between the main reception and education centre. This lift is mainly used for groups and school pupils who visit the museum and use the education centre. The education centre is a great tool where large groups can learn about British history from the Civil War up to the present day conflicts. The lift was finished in stainless steel with glass panels to match the newly refurbished modern look of the building and the travel distance was 1.8 metres.

We fitted and installed a platform lift for access to the Discover More gallery, it was also finished in stainless steel and glass to suit the new aesthetics of the building. The cabin length of 1650mm allows both a large wheelchair or mobility scoot and carer to easily and safely use the lift. The platform lift travels just 980mm but can hold a load of up to 300kg.

The third lift we designed and installed was for staff access from outside the building to the lower basement floor. The outdoor platform lift was finished in RAL 7016 painted steel with a travel distance of 1180mm. The platform lift that the client wanted was a cost effective product that would withstand any adverse weather conditions that could be thrown at it. The lift would provide disabled access for staff and workers at the National Army Museum.

All three lifts were fitted within 2 weeks and were ready for the National Army Museum's Grand Opening in March 2017.

Commercial Buildings

Haywood House – Open Platform Lift with Bespoke Mesh

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Hidden Platform Lift at Broadwalk House, Exeter

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Laystall Street – Hidden Platform Lift

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Eardley House – Glass Platform Lift

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Sovereign House

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

The Base at Greenham

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Platform Lift at Brunel House, Cardiff

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Hidden Platform Lift at 200 Gray’s Inn Road

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65, email us or click here to be taken to our hidden lifts page

Outdoor Wheelchair Lift for Elm Yard, Elm Street

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Platform Lifts at the National Army Museum

For more information about lifts like the ones above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us