National Theatre

We were approached by the National Theatre as they were undergoing a refurbishment to a large part of the theatre. They needed to provide disabled access throughout the building, unfortunately they couldn't make space for a conventional passenger lift due to the building's Grade II listing. The National Theatre is situated on the Southbank of the Thames and holds a host of productions from Shakespeare to more contemporary plays.

Working with Lendlease, the construction management business, we designed and fitted a lift with automatic doors on adjacent sides. The lift travelled a distance of 12 metres across four floors, with entry points on two of the four sides of the lift shaft. The client had strict criteria that the lift had to meet due to the building's Grade II listing. The ceiling of lift had to be anodised bronze to match the theatre's ceiling that had originally been installed in 1976. In order to match this requirement we used the same anodising company that had originally constructed the theatre's ceiling. We also replicated the handrail from the landings inside the lift car and used the same materials to create a handrail that is identical to those in the theatre. We completed the lift with the same flooring as the rest of the theatre, with the original carpet from 1971 being used in the lift car. The rest of the lift was finished in stainless steel to contrast the wooden panelling and one of the interior sides was fitted with a complete floor to ceiling mirror. Even with the high specification of the lift, it was fitted within 4 weeks.

Hidden Lifts at the Devonshire Club

An exclusive members' club in Devonshire Square in the City of London asked us to come up with plans to fit both an outside step lift and a platform lift within the lobby. The Devonshire Club needed products that would fit in with the club's appearance with a blend of traditional and modern decor. The Devonshire Club features 3 large bars, 2 lounges and plenty of outdoor space in particular a large stone laid terrace and garden. The club also features restaurants and 68 rooms available to both members and non-members with the usual functions rooms and event spaces available for conferences and meetings.

SUSD, the firm behind the project, were looking for an indoor platform lift to be installed between the reception and main bar so that disabled guests could make use of the club's facilities. The difference in floor level was 1000mm and the client did not want a cumbersome platform lift so instead chose one of our products. The lift was installed in a mirrored glass shaft to match the building's existing wall. In addition, the lift's platform was finished with the original stone flooring so that the platform disappears into the floor on the ground floor. The door into the bar area was made out of hard wood to match the bar's decor for a stunning finish.

In addition to the lift connecting the reception and bar, the client needed an outdoor step lift so that guests could enjoy the winter gardens that are situated outside of the club. As the travel for the lift was only small, we installed another platform lift which matched the stone laid terrace. This lift is extremely versatile as well as being rugged and the original flooring or tiles can be used so the lift can become hidden in plain sight. The lift was finished with a glass door to match the glass balustrade of the rest of the terrace. The client was extremely pleased with the finished of both lifts and how seamlessly they blended into the building's aesthetics.

Retail Lift at Local Opticians

Optique 2000 is an opticians in Wimborne, offering high quality glasses for customers all over Dorset. Due to increased demand for their glasses Optique needed to look to expand their business, they had 2 options, they either had to move to larger premises or look to expand the current site to maximise the retail space. They had a stock room upstairs but access was difficult so they couldn't turn it into a sales floor without making it easier for customers and staff alike to get up there. A simple shop lift was the best option to increase their sales floor.

They chose to install a Vector system, a lift that comes in its own aluminium shaft, it also only needs a 50mm pit below the floor level. This means that there is little builder's work with minimal cost. The lift fitted had dimensions of 1400mm x 1100mm with automatic doors on both floors. The shop lift was finished in gloss white with glazed glass doors to give the lift a spacious and airy feel in what was a small space. The lift was fitted in 2 days and has led to Optique doubling their retail space without having to move from their current in location in the heart of Wimborne.

The Dancing Man Brewery at the Wool House

The owner of the Grade I listed Dancing Man Brewery & Pub came to us needing a pub lift that fitted the industrial aesthetics of the building and did not compromise the Grade I listing.

The Dancing Man Brewery & Pub is situated in the Wool House, Southampton. The Wool House is a 14th Century, Grade I listed building that has recently been converted into a microbrewery and pub. The owners wanted to make the 1st floor accessible to disabled customers so that they could experience the whole brewery. The main challenge that needed to be overcome was how to design a lift to fit into a 1450mm x 1450mm space that did not compromise the property's Grade I listing.

We came up with a small platform lift within its own lift shaft. In order to meet the client's expectations of an industrial looking pub lift to reflect the building's historic past, we opted for a glass lift shaft with a black structure. This was so that the inner workings of the lift could be seen by the customers to give it a warehouse/industrial charm. The work was completed within 10 days and the lift was ready for the grand opening of the Dancing Man. Our engineers even fitted the client's existing handrails to the lift structure as to maximise the space on the stairway leading to the 1st floor. The client was really impressed with the finished article and said, "we were very pleased with how Access Lifts worked, the guys left the site neat and tidy ready for the grand opening."

To see more of our projects in listed buildings click on the following links: York Theatre Royal, British Library, National Theatre and Inclined Platform Lift in Grade II Listed Waterworks.

Specialist Boat Lift in Partnership with Berthon Boat Company

Upon recommendation, Berthon Boat Company in Lymington called us with a very specialist problem. Their client, who was an enthusiastic sailing boat owner, sadly had an accident and had been left paralyzed. To allow him to enjoy his boat to its full extent they needed to install a specialist boat lift that would allow their client to get from the deck to the cabin below.

The challenge of the project was to design and fit a specialist boat lift in such a narrow gap as well as keeping all the remaining features intact so both the client and his family could use the boat without any obstacles. The client had two beautiful wooden doors that he wanted to remain in place and so Berthon Boat Company removed 75mm of the fibreglass deck so we could fit our lifting system. We installed a bespoke scissor jack system with a platform to accommodate the wheelchair - the control system and small hydraulic pump were placed inside a cupboard that was easily accessible. The platform was fitted with the same carpet as the lower deck's flooring so that when the lift was not in use you wouldn't know it was there! A small set of temporary steps were then put into place so the rest of the family could easily access the lower deck.

The lift allowed the client to get back onto his boat and enjoy sailing in the Solent and further afield once again. To see more of our work for disabled access on boats click here

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

We were approached by the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead who were looking to supply wheelchair access to part of their art gallery. The Baltic Centre is a converted flour mill located on the soutbaek of the River Tyne in Gateshead. The local landmark plays host to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and holds several world renowned exhibitions. In fact the mill was the first venue outside of London and Liverpool to host the Turner Prize in its 25 year history. The client wanted an access solution that would provide both the necessary access for all visitors but also be in keeping with the BALTIC's contemporary design. A compliant ramp would require at least 6 metres of slope to get over the 500mm rise across the split floor levels.

In order to create a simple solution that wouldn't disrupt the interior of the building with a more traditional platform lift we designed a small hidden scissor step lift. The step lift would firstly rise above the height of the 3 steps between the galleries then travel across to the upper floor level and then lower slightly to meet the floor level. The total travel for the lift was 5o0mm vertically followed by 700mm horizontally, the lift has a maximum load of 450kg so can easily take a wheelchair and even the heaviest of electric mobility scooters. The lift was finished with the same hardwood flooring as the gallery and so disappears into the floor when not in use. The lift was installed in a day and was ready to use by mid afternoon the same day.

To see more of our hidden platform lifts click on the following links:

200 Grays Inn Road | Sissinghurst Castle Garden | 24 Chiswell Street | Devonshire Club | Platform Lift for Ribs

Disabled Access on the Royal Barge – Gloriana

We were lucky to be asked to provide the disabled access solution for the Queen’s royal barge – Gloriana – this was in preparation for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The architect needed a simple solution so that the boat’s users could get from the upper outdoor deck to the lower covered part of the barge. They wanted a lift that would cause as little disruption to the boat as possible and would be quick and simple to operate. The main challenge was that they came to us 4 weeks before the Gloriana was due to motor up the Thames as part of the celebration. The majority of our projects are completed in 10-12 weeks so it was a race against time to get the lift designed, built and then installed.

We designed and created a scissor lift that would fit under the original cabin doors and would have a very small pit below the lift of only 120mm. The lift’s platform measured 800mm x 1200m so could easily fit a wheelchair as well as another person. When not in use the temporary steps were placed on top of the lift so that the boat could be used as it was before the installation of the lift. We managed to use the boat’s own power supply of 24V DC to operate the lift. In order to disguise the lift and make it match the aesthetics of the Gloriana, we finished the platform with the same Elm, from the Prince of Wales Estate in Cornwall, that was used on the rest of the interior of the boat.

On the day of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the Gloriana sailed down the Thames with members of the Help For Heroes Charity, unfortunately it was a wet day but luckily our lift was installed so everyone could get under cover quickly and safely.

To see more of our platform lifts on boats or in historic buildings have a look at our Speedboat, National Army Museum, York Theatre Royal and Baltic Centre projects.

Platform Lift at Audi Northampton

The General Manager of Audi Northampton came to us to ask if we could design a solution so that wheelchair users could get from one side of the showroom to the other side with a floor level difference of over a metre. He really didn’t want a ramp as it wouldn’t match the showroom’s aesthetics and would take up much needed retail space. Ramps can take up to 40m² and so really aren’t the option for busy shop floors and retail spaces! Therefore a disabled platform lift was the only solution.

We designed and then installed a LP8 platform lift from Guldmann with dimensions of 900mm x 1530mm with a 1200mm travel. The lift was finished in grey with glass doors and sides to match Audi’s colour scheme and the client’s requirements.

The platform lift was fitted and installed in just 1 day! The lift now allows both staff and clients alike to use both levels of the showroom and provides vital access for wheelchair users.

Access Lifts at the Olympics

Back in 2012 we were asked by the well known temporary structure supplier Portakabin to help with the access issues for their Operations Centre in Stratford, East London during the London 2012 Olympics. They needed to provide access to the viewing platform on top of their temporary structure for mobility impaired and wheelchair bound visitors.

The specific requirements of the lift were - it had to travel over 11 metres, they needed an external lift shaft attached to their existing structure, a through lift cabin with doors on both sides of the shaft, fire control sensors and testers and an intercom that connected directly to the main reception - they needed all of this done within 40 days! We even took into account any prevailing winds as the lift would be over 13 metres tall and attached to a temporary structure.

We initially met with Portakabin on 31st May and on the day we managed to give an immediate verbal quotation after taking all of the necessary measurements. By the afternoon we had contacted the manufacturer to produce detailed drawings of the lift and were able to provide a full quotation with the necessary builders' work. Within 5 working days Portakabin confirmed the order and the lift was installed by 29th June (only 21 days later!), this was 10 days before the deadline and the client was totally delighted with the finished product.

Medway County Court

We were approached by Medway County Court in Chatham, Kent as they needed to replace their old disabled platform lift with a new one. The old lift that we removed was over 40 years old therefore in really bad condition, our engineers were surprised it even worked! After removal of the old lift we measured the resulting gap so that we could design the new lift. We set out to design a lift that would be robust, affordable and would last. Courts are very busy buildings with a large number of visitors daily. The difficulty of creating a disabled access lift for a public building such as Medway County Court is making it robust enough to stand up to the daily wear and tear as well as finding time to fit it.

We installed a lift with platform dimensions of 900mm x 1480mm, the length of the platform allows both a disabled person in a large wheelchair and carer to travel up together. The lift travels a total distance of 1400mm and was finished with glass automatic doors and side panels. The extruded legs were finished in brushed aluminium. Due to the busy nature of the court, we weren't able to install the lift within the week. The result of this was that we had to fit the lift on the weekend, we started the installation on Saturday morning and were finished by Sunday afternoon. The stainless steel lift car will protect any marking over time and allow the lift to provide disabled access for a number of years.

To see projects similar to Medway County Court click on the following links:

Venture House | Seven Dials | National Army Museum | Chiswell Street | Southwark Council

Projects

National Theatre

For more information about lifts for theatre and stage call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Hidden Lifts at the Devonshire Club

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

Retail Lift at Local Opticians

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

The Dancing Man Brewery at the Wool House

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

Specialist Boat Lift in Partnership with Berthon Boat Company

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

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

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

Disabled Access on the Royal Barge – Gloriana

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

Platform Lift at Audi Northampton

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

Access Lifts at the Olympics

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 080 65 252 65 or email us

Medway County Court

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