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.

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.

Glass Home Lift in St John’s Wood, London

We were approached by a private client in St John's Wood, Central London, who wanted a glass home lift running across 5 floors of his house. St John's Wood is a largely residential area of London, adjacent to Regent's Park and home of Lord's cricket ground. It is an extremely affluent district of London with large detached properties contrary to London's usual townhouse homes. With this in mind the client wanted a lift that would live up to his expectations and seamlessly blend into the aesthetics of his home.

After attending the site to measure the lift shaft we submitted the drawings and discussed with the client his vision and exactly what he wanted in regards to style and finishes. He made it clear that he wanted the lift to look very modern and be completed in a full glass structure with glass doors. We fitted an EP Elfo with cabin dimensions of 950mm x 1000mm which travelled a total distance of 10.5 metres across 5 floors. The lift was finished with panoramic glass doors that were 800mm wide creating a spacious cabin interior. The glass finish for both the structure and doors meant that the lift matched the client's modern and luxurious specifications.

Goods Lift at Commercial Office in the City of London

Access Lifts was approached by ISG because they needed a lift installed during their refit of Dixon House, a large commercial office building on Fenchurch Street in the City of London. ISG needed a lift that could be used as an alternative disabled access lift but would predominantly be used for moving heavy goods such as large refuse bins. They needed a lift that could carry over 2000kg of goods across the 2 floor levels. As with many buildings in the City, space at Dixon House is at a premium and so the goods lift had to be made with a specially designed platform to fit the abnormal space. The goods lift had to be be made into a right angled trapezium shape to fit the space of the service entrance of the building.

The goods lift has platform dimensions of 4050mm x 1500mm and travels a total distance of 1750mm. The lift had to have a 550mm pit below the finished floor level so that the lift's scissor mechanism would fit and the platform would be at the same height as the finished floor level. The lift has handrails on one side with a stainless steel sliding gate so that access is provided even when the lift isn't in use. The goods lift's was finished with a 50mm x 6mm galvanised steel edge so that the client's concrete flooring could be laid onto the platform to match the surrounding floor.

Inclined Platform Lift in Dartmouth

We were approached by a group of clients that wanted to find a way to get from the road to their house some 44 metres up a steep incline. An inclined platform lift would be an easy way to get to their homes as well as transport shopping and other heavy items to and from the houses. The lift would provide access for 3 homes that shared the same access route up the side of a hill in Dartmouth, Devon.

The only viable option for this particular challenge was to install an inclined platform lift however we had never installed anything this long before. Before we started we needed to photograph every step (all 87!) so we could produce a quality drawing for both the clients and the manufacturer. Due to the location’s proximity to the sea, both the lift and the complex supporting structure would have to be made out of the right materials to prevent any rusting or corrosion.

We chose to install a Hiro inclined platform lift, with the lift and the structure built using marine-grade stainless steel so that the system wouldn’t rust or weaken overtime. The lift was installed within 1 week and the clients are very happy.

Home Lift in Torquay

We were approached by a private client who wanted a home lift installed in their house in Torquay. The client wanted a lift that would sit in the middle of their wooden staircase and would future-proof his house. The client had designed their house in an Art Deco style and so wanted a lift that wouldn't look out of place with this distinctive appearance and would actually add to its design. In addition the lift should act as a light well, allowing light to flood from the top floor all the way down to the ground floor.

We installed a lift within its own fully glazed structure, the lift total travel was 5.8 metres across 3 floors. The lift was made to fit the exact size of the stairwell to maximise the size of the lift, the cabin measured 1200mm x 1000mm allowing ample room for passengers as well as suitcases. The client chose a gloss black finish for the structure and automatic swing doors with large glass windows to match the house's aesthetics. The internal cabin was finished in brushed stainless steel with an Art Deco lighting design. The flooring of the lift was laid with the same stone tiles as the rest of the house's ground floor so there was seamless transition from landing to lift which can be seen in the photos below

The lift was fitted and installed within a fortnight.

New Forest Ice Cream

We were approached by New Forest Ice Cream, one of the largest independent ice cream producers in the UK. They were looking to install disabled access to the 1st floor at their head office in Lymington, Hampshire. New Forest Ice Cream is a family run business that was established over 30 years ago and has supplied the nation with the highest quality products. As the business has grown so has the office size and location. In 2013 New Forest Ice Cream moved back to where they started in Lymington to larger premises. With the larger production facility and office they needed disabled access to the first floor. This is when they got in contact with Access Lifts.

After attending site and having a meeting with the client it was clear they wanted a practical lift that would have lots of space. This was so that 1st floor of the office was accessible for disabled members of staff as well as any visitors who used wheelchairs. We installed a disabled platform lift measuring 1100mm x 1400mm - enough space for a wheelchair as well as a carer if necessary in it's own aluminium structure. The total distance the lift travelled was 4.5 metres across the 2 floors. The lift was finished with glass swing landing doors which were painted blue with the rest of the shaft painted white to match the building's interior. The lift was installed within 3 days.

Wheelchair Lift at The Point, Eastleigh

We were approached by representatives of The Point, Eastleigh as they were looking to install a new wheelchair lift. The Point, Eastleigh is a local theatre that plays host to a large variety of performances and is run by Eastleigh Borough Council. The Point is situated adjacent to Eastleigh Borough Council offices in the town centre and is a hub for local residents. The theatre accommodates a wide range of events spanning from contemporary theatrical productions to dances classes for all ages to community shows. As a vital hub for the local community the client needed to replace their current wheelchair lift quickly. The Point's current wheelchair lift was over 15 years old and wasn't fit for purpose. However the old lift provided a vital disabled access route for both staff and visitors alike and so we surveyed the site and submitted drawings for a new lift to the client.

We designed and fitted a brand new wheelchair lift to travel up the 3.5 metres difference between ground floor to first floor. The total travel of the lift is over 7 metres which included two 90º corners and one 180º corner from the ground floor. The width of the staircase varied therefore a smaller platform measuring 750mm x 900mm was fitted. The wheelchair lift has a rated load of 225kg therefore can easily move even the heaviest of mobility scooters. The lift was installed within 2 days.

To see more examples of our work in theatres click on the following links: Step Lift and Passenger Lift in York Theatre Royal and Passenger Lift in the National Theatre.

To see more examples of our inclined wheelchair lifts click on the following links: Inclined Platform Lift in Grade II Listed Waterworks, Outdoor Inclined Platform Lift in Dartford, Inclined Wheelchair Platform Lift in Poole, Outdoor Garden Lift in Parkstone and Inclined Platform Lift in Dartmouth.

Platform Lift at Bitterne Park School

We were approached by Bitterne Park School in Southampton as they wanted to install disabled access across their main school building and were having difficulty in positioning the school lift. Schools can often find it difficulty to find the space for disabled access in or around existing buildings especially if the building is 20 years or older. Bitterne Park School had this same problem so got in touch about where a lift could be positioned to maximise the existing space of the school and make it easier for pupils with wheelchairs to get to and from lessons.

We installed a Vimec EO6 platform lift across 3 floors with a travel distance of 10 metres. The school lift was fitted in its own external glazed shaft with black weatherproof steel and then was directly fitted to the existing school building. The lift was installed with fully automatic swing landing doors on each landing. We also installed the lift with a "school timer" that means after it has been used the lift automatically travels away from the floor level so the system is completely locked and no one can gain access to the lift shaft. The pupils or members of staff with the access key for the lift can then use it as and when they need to. The pump was installed within a secure steel cabinet opposite the ground floor door. We not only carried out the lift installation inclusive of the glazed shaft but also project managed the building work for the local LEA.

Platform Lift on a Speedboat

We were asked to design and create a platform lift on a speedboat for one of their clients. Their client is a wheelchair user and needed a way they could easily board and disembark the tender to reach both the marina or their motor-yacht. The tender was originally converted from an amphibious vehicle and the only available space for the lift was to the rear of the boat.

The main challenges facing us on this project were that all the materials would have to be resistant to the marine environment, getting a suitable power supply to operate the lift, how could the lift be used safely on the water and making the boat “invisible” so guests wouldn’t be able to see it before and after use.

To combat the salt water and its life at sea, the lift was made out of 316 marine grade stainless steel, unlike conventional stainless steel which can rust when it comes into contact with salt water, 316 stainless steel doesn’t corrode so can handle the sea environment. All stainless steel parts are then treated with different chemicals and highly polished to remove any free iron particles that could be present on the surface. If left untreated these small specs of ferrous materials would eventually rust and bleed over the stainless steel.

In order to operate the lift we were able to match the boat’s current power supply of 24V DC so that no external batteries would have to be used and charged. This saves on overall weight of the lift and of course makes the system less bulky and easier to disguise within the boat itself.

As you can imagine, to use a lift whilst at sea can be difficult with the constant swell changing the position of the boat and the lift compared with the marina or quayside. We installed retractable 316 marine grade stainless steel handrails that are clicked into place when the lift is to be operated. This allows crew, users and guests to safely embark and disembark the boat, without these there is a risk of falling into the marina. In addition all the lift controls were operated by handheld radio controls, this allowed the crew and client to use the lift remotely, as well as being able to float so they would be able to be retrieved if they were dropped in the sea.

To tackle the issue of blending the lift into the boat, we decided the lift should be designed to sit under the decking when not in use. The system completely collapses into the surrounding decking and is finished with the same teak used on the rest of the boat and so it is completely disguised.

Working in partnership with the boat builders we completed the installation in the South of France in 10 days. The lift has made it easier for the crew, client and guests to moor straight onto the marina and quayside rather than tackling the difficult task of pontoons.

Projects

Seven Dials Warehouse

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

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

Glass Home Lift in St John’s Wood, London

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

Goods Lift at Commercial Office in the City of London

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

Inclined Platform Lift in Dartmouth

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

Home Lift in Torquay

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

New Forest Ice Cream

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

Wheelchair Lift at The Point, Eastleigh

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

Platform Lift at Bitterne Park School

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

Platform Lift on a Speedboat

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