Venture House, Reading

GPAD, the London based architecture firm, approached Access Lifts because they wanted to install disabled access into the main entrance of a commercial office block they had recently designed in Reading. Venture House is a former print works building located in the heart of Reading opposite the train station. As with many former industrial buildings, Venture House was being renovated into office space. The end result would be 6 floors of Cat A offices with an industrial aesthetic throughout to compliment the building's history.

GPAD wanted a platform lift that would suit the modern interior of this iconic building. We designed and installed a platform lift with DDA compliant platform dimensions of 1100mm x 1400mm. This allows both a wheelchair user and a carer to use the lift together. The lift travels a distance of 1.2 metres between the floor levels and provides disabled access at the main entrance of the building. The lift was finished in black painted steel to match the surrounding balustrade with a mesh door and side panels designed for the lift car and a glass door chosen for the upper level.

The lift was installed within 3 days and a tray with depth of 22mm was left on the platform so that the building contractors could finish the tiles on the side. The tiles used on the lift matched the rest of the flooring so there was a seamless transition from landing to platform.

Location: Berkshire

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2017

To see projects similar to Venture House click on the following links:

Brunel House | National Army Museum | 200 Gray's Inn RoadSeven Dials WarehouseSouthwark Council | 24 Chiswell Street | Elm Yard

Open platform lift at Venture House in Reading
Platform lift with specialist black mesh
Specialist platform lift in the lobby area of Venture House

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

British Library

We were approached by the architect, De Matos Ryan, to measure for a disabled access lift in the British Library in Central London. The British Library is located next to St Pancras Station on Euston Road and contains copies of every book published in the UK as well as being the largest library in the world. The building it is situated in is less than 50 years old however it is a Grade I listed building which can make the construction of a lift very difficult. The client needed disabled access across 3 floors for library visitors as well as private functions that take place on the 2nd floor. The lift’s overall travel would be 5.8m.

The disabled access lift needed to cover 3 floors and have adjacent doors on both 1st and 2nd floors as well as being perfectly aligned between the 2 steel beams supporting the roof. One of the initial challenges we faced was that for a lift of this size, a conventional lift would require a 1500mm pit below the lower floor level, however due to the small distance between the floor level and the ceiling of the floor below the maximum pit we were able to have was 130mm. In addition, a conventional lift would need 3500mm metres above the upper floor level however we had a maximum height of 2350mm as the ceiling could not be taking off or adjusted for the lift.

The lift structure also needed to be able to support two landing balconies weighing 500kg each. We had 2 sets of automatic power car doors adjacent to ground floor entry onto the balconies of 1st and 2nd floors. The architect wanted the to maximise the light that enters the space so chose a white structure with pinned glass on the outside of the structure. The finish makes the most of the light pouring into the building and makes the whole experience of using the lift feel less claustrophobic. The placement and attachment of the glass proved challenging because there were no points that a hoist could fix to therefore the glass was moved and positioned by hand. Even though this took longer than expected the finish of the lift looks great.

The lift now supplies disabled access for library users and is an aesthetically pleasing addition to the Grade I listed building.

Location: Central London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2017

To see similar projects to The British Library click on the following links:

The Wool House | National Theatre | York Theatre Royal | The Base at Greenham | Meriden Hall |  Branksome Park | Powys | Whitecliff | Bosham

Glass Lift at the British Library - First Floor
Glass Lift at the British Library - Ground Floor
3 Floor Glass Lift in the British Library
Glass lift shaft and lift at the British Library
3 floor glass lift at the British Library
The lift at the British Library linking to the top floor restaurant and private function rooms

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

Outdoor Inclined Platform Lift in Dartford, Kent

We were approached by a private client in Dartford, Kent who was looking to modify the existing disabled access route into his office. He wanted to replace the existing old rickety ramp (see below) which was difficult to manoeuvre on and travel up due to its steep angle with an easier system. With this in mind, we discussed the different options available to the client and we decided the best option moving forward was to install an outdoor inclined platform lift. The lift would have to be able to take the load of his electric-powered wheelchair as well as any wheelchairs used by any visitors to the different offices and businesses in the building. In addition to the lift we would fit a new set of wooden steps so that able-bodied people would still be able to use this route as a point of access.

We designed and installed an outdoor inclined platform lift with a platform measuring 800mm x 1250mm and a load capacity of up to 300kg. The lift travels a total distance of 1500mm. The large platform space allows for both the client's electric-powered wheelchair as well as smaller manual wheelchairs of visitors and workers of the other businesses within the building. Our engineers also fitted a new set of wooden steps so that able-bodied members of staff would also be able to use this access route. The outdoor inclined platform lift was finished in stainless steel so that it's resistant to all weather conditions.

Location: Kent

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2018

To see projects similar to this outdoor inclined platform lift in Dartford click on the following links:

Morelands Riverdale | Poole | Parkstone | Dartmouth | Kingswear | Southwark Council | 24 Chiswell Street | Elm Yard

Outdoor Inclined Platform Lift
Folded Outdoor Inclined Platform Lift
Inclined Platform Lift Replacing An Old Wooden Ramp
Old Wooden Ramp
New Inclined platform lift and wooden steps

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

Whitecliff

We were approached by a private client who had already built a lift shaft next to his staircase and was now looking to have a lift installed. We went to the site in Whitecliff, Poole to measure the internal structure and discuss his vision and exactly what he was looking for. Whitecliff is a sought after area and overlooks both Whitecliff Park as well as Poole Harbour. The majority of the houses around the park are very modern with glass being a prominent feature across the whole Whitecliff-Lilliput-Sandbanks area. He wanted a lift that would match the aesthetics of his home and so wanted a style that was light, airy as well as being modern.

We fitted a lift within the prebuilt lift shaft with the home lift travelling a total distance of 5970mm across 3 floors with a maximum load of 300kg. The internal cabin measures 850mm x 1100mm with 800mm glass swing doors on each floor. The door structure was painted white to match the colour of the lift shaft with the glass within the doors specially made to include a wave-like pattern to mirror the surroundings vistas. On the upper floor there was glass on 3 sides of the lift to allow as much natural light as possible into the lift shaft. This allows the lift to act as a light well throughout the property. The lift was fitted with adjacent entry on 2 sides. This home lift was fitted within 2 weeks.

Location: Dorset

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2014

To see more of our home lift projects click on the following links:

Bexhill-on-Sea | Mayfair | RingwoodWestbourne | Weymouth | Branksome Park | St John’s Wood | Bosham | Torquay | Highcliffe

Glass Home Lift in Poole
Patterned Glass Home Lift in Poole
Home Lift in Poole, Dorset with glass lift shaft
Home Lift in Poole with Glass Doors
Lift shaft with glass panels

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

Outdoor Garden Lift in Parkstone

We were approached by a private client in Parkstone, Dorset who had recently moved into a renovated home that was situated on the side of a hill with views overlooking Poole and Poole Harbour.  They were looking to install some sort of outdoor garden lift as they needed a way of carrying heavy items and groceries from their garage at payment level up to the level of their front door. The distance in total was around 12 metres. They also wanted something that would act as a way of future-proofing their home  and add value to their property.

After meeting with the clients we decided that the best option would be to install an inclined platform lift going from the garage to the level of the front door. External lifts in glass and steel structures would either require excavation of the land or additional steelwork in the form of a walkway. In addition a structure would require planning permission. Therefore a traditional lift would not be suitable for this lift. The inclined garden lift has a mid level landing point so that suitcase and heavy objects can be moved between all three levels. 

To see more examples of our outdoor lifts and garden lifts click on the following projects:

Poole | Dartmouth | Kingswear | Minehead | Branksome Park | Bosham | Powys

Location: Dorset

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2018

Outdoor Inclined Platform Lift in Parkstone
Outside Garden Lift in Parkstone, Dorset
Outdoor Platform Lift for the Garden

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

Platform Lift for Commercial Offices in Southwark

We were approached by Southwark Council because they needed to provide disabled access to their Lifeways office on Southwark Bridge Road, SE1. As the name suggests they are close to the river therefore right in the heart of London. Similar to many other commercial offices in the city, space is at a premium and it can be difficult to fit any type of disabled access in existing properties. After taking measurements of the area where a lift could be fitted, we came up with a drawing and submitted it to the council, who then ordered the lift.

Our engineers installed a lift with platform dimensions of 1519mm x 1184mm. The lift had to keep to these very specific measurements because the building has a steel shutter that has to completely shut to stop the public from entering the building outside of office opening hours. The platform lift has a total travel distance of 780mm to the ground floor level. The lift was finished in stainless steel so that it would be able to withstand the day-to-day footfall of a busy commercial office in London as well as dirt and rainwater coming form the street. The side panels as well as the car and landing doors were finished in glass.

Location: London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2015

 

To see projects similar to Lifeways for Southwark Council click on the following links:

Brunel House | National Army Museum | 200 Gray's Inn RoadSeven Dials Warehouse | Venture House | 24 Chiswell Street | Elm Yard

Platform Lift at Commercial Offices in Southwark
Disabled Platform Lift for Southwark Council in Central London
Platform Lift in the Main Entrance of Southwark Council's Lifeways Office

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

Outdoor Stairlift in Kingswear, Devon

In January 2017 we were approached by a private client in Kingswear, Devon who was looking to future-proof their home and provide disabled access not only to themselves but to friends as well. Similar to many properties across the Devon coastline, this home was situated on the side of a hill with car parking several metres below the entrance to the house. After discussion with the client we decided that the best option would be to install an outdoor stairlift. Other options such as a platform lift would require too much builders work and wouldn't be an affordable option while there was too little space to fit an inclined platform lift without expanding the width of the steps.

The total travel of the outdoor stairlift is over 23 metres spread across 43 steps from the road below to the front door. Even though the route the lift travels is a complicated one with many twists and turns, the outdoor stairlift was installed in one day. Due to the lift's location and proximity to the sea, all metal components were made out of marine-grade stainless steel to prevent any rust or corrosion forming in the future. The client was very happy with the installation and has a beautiful view of the River Dart when they use the outdoor stairlift.

To see more examples of our outdoor lifts and garden lifts click on the following projects: Outdoor Home Lift in Powys, Inclined Platform Lift in Dartmouth, Inclined Platform Lift in Parkstone.

Location: Devon

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2017

Outdoor Stairlift in Kingswear, Devon
Outdoor Disabled Chair Lift Overlooking the River Dart
Outdoor Chairlift in Devon
Outside Stairlift That Travels Over 23 Metres in Devon

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

Telefonica Digital, Piccadilly

We were approached by Overbury because they needed to install a wheelchair platform lift during the fit out of the new head office of Telefonica Digital in Piccadilly. Overbury were responsible for redesigning and redeveloping the office space totalling 50,000 sq ft offering new and improved workspaces as well as meeting rooms and an inverted cone "brand pod."

During the fit out, Overbury needed to fit a lift to allow access form 9th floor elevators to the staff meeting areas as well as the project workspace. The client wanted a lift that would match the office's new design and blend into the surrounding aesthetics with the fit out being very light with large open spaces. The designer decided to choose a white wheelchair platform lift with glass panels on the lift car itself so that the lift's style and finish matched that of the rest of the office. The platform of the lift measures 1400mm x 1100mm and has a total travel distance of 1370mm across 6 stairs. The wheelchair platform lift is capable of taking a load of up to 410kg, which means it can be used by both electric-powered buggy users and regular wheelchair users. The lift provides access from the elevators on 9th floor to the staff meeting areas as well as the project space and provides vital access for any disabled visitors.

Location: London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2011

To see projects similar to Telefonica Digital click on the following links:

Brunel House | National Army Museum | 200 Gray's Inn RoadSeven Dials Warehouse | Venture House | 24 Chiswell Street | Elm Yard | Southwark Council

Platform Lift in the head office of Telefonica Digital
Wheelchair Lift on 9th Floor of the Telefonica Digital office
Disabled Access Lift in Telefonica's Head Office

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

Seven Dials Warehouse

In conjunction with our previous project at Venture House in Reading, the architectural firm, GPAD asked us to design and install a similar lift during the refurbishment of Cat A offices at the Seven Dials Warehouse. Seven Dials is a commercial area a stone's throw away from the West End's Shaftesbury Avenue and the shopping district of Neal's Yard. It sits between Covent Garden and Soho and is named after the 7 roads that join together at its centre.

Having previously worked with GPAD on their Venture House project, we knew that they wanted a similar style and finish for this lift. Our engineers fitted the lift in the main entrance during GPAD's renovation of the building into commercial offices. The lift has platform dimensions of 900mm x 1400mm and travels a total distance of 1250mm. This specialist platform lift works using a scissor system therefore needs a pit below the floor level. In this particular project we had a pit of 250mm. We set the platform height at 15mm below the floor level so that the client could fit their tiles to the platform to match the lobby's existing stone flooring. Specially made Cadisch mesh panels were fitted to the sides and gates of the lift to match the building's style as well as the architect's vision. We finished the platform lift in jet black (RAL colour 9005) to give a modern but industrial look. Our engineers installed the lift within 4 days so it was ready for the building's official opening.

Location: London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2017

To see projects similar to Seven Dials Warehouse click on the following links:

Brunel House | National Army Museum | 200 Gray's Inn RoadVenture House | Southwark Council | 24 Chiswell Street | Elm Yard

Platform lift in the main reception of Seven Dials Warehouse
Disabled access lift at 1st floor at Seven Dials Warehouse
Platform Lift at Seven Dials Warehouse, Earlham Street

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

Small Passenger Lift in Townhouse in Mayfair

We were approached by Interiors with Art, a London based design and construction company as they were looking to incorporate a lift into one of their projects in Mayfair. We attended site to measure and provide a quotation for a small passenger lift that could service all 4 floors of the house. As with many of the Victorian townhouses found in the Mayfair area this building had been split into flats. Mayfair is an affluent area of West London and is situated just to the East of Hyde Park and West of the City of London. Lifts in townhouses in the Mayfair and Park Lane area are becoming more and more common as building and flat owners are looking to future proof their properties and our client was no different. In the current market, a building without a lift can be the reason a flat doesn't sell at the asking price or even sell at all. 

The architect wanted the small passenger lift to fit into the space that had been left behind after the dumbwaiter was removed. The lift would also have to have adjacent entries therefore would limit the interior cabin dimensions even more. The lift's interior measures 630 mm x 725 mm with photocells placed on the two sides of entry - this was to maximise the space inside the lift for the client. The total travel of the lift is over 10 metres across 4 floors and the maximum load of the lift is 300kg. The lift has 600mm wide swing landing doors with opaque glass windows and finished in the client's chosen RAL colour. The lift's interior was finished in polished stainless steel giving the feel that the lift was much larger than it actually was. The floor of the lift was fitted with the same marble tiling as the ground floor so there was a seamless transition from hallway to lift. 

Location: London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2017

To see more examples of our home lifts click on the following links:

Bexhill-on-Sea | Ringwood | Whitecliff | Westbourne | Weymouth | Branksome Park | St John’s WoodBosham | Torquay | Highcliffe

Small Passenger Lift in Flats in Mayfair
Small Passenger Lift with Marble Floor
Glass and steel door in dark grey in apartment block in Mount Street, London

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