listed building

Oriel College Oxford

Oriel College Oxford is the oldest royal foundation in Oxford  and has a rich history of celebrated alumni, for example King Charles is the official visitor to the College. The College dates back to 1324 and in 2023 started major renovation works to its East Range set of buildings. The renovation included upgrades to kitchen areas, beer cellars and dining halls. Access Lifts worked with Penwarden Hale architects to specify a cabin lift back in 2022 and were then instructed by Beard Construction to carry out the works package. The lift provides access for kitchen staff from the main kitchen on the ground floor to the Grade I-listed Dining Hall on the first floor as well as providing a disabled access route for non-ambulant visitors. 

The lift design includes a 2 stop, through car arrangement with automatic sliding doors. All finishes are in brushed stainless steel to aid ease of cleaning for the kitchen as well as a simple, refined look. The lift has a Part M compliant size of 1100mm x 1400mm with 900mm wide 2-panel side opening doors. The lift also features a SafeLine evacuation intercom system as specified by the lift consultant. The lift was completed in Autumn 2025 ready for the grand re-opening of Oriel College Oxford's East Range with a number of fellows and invited guests touring the newly renovated spaces and the lift being used for dinner service on the first night. 

Access Lifts has experience in working in Britain's oldest educational institutions with previous projects at Pembroke College Oxford, Trinity College Cambridge and Ridley Hall Cambridge. 

Location: Oxford

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2025

To see projects similar to the Oriel College Oxford click on the following links:

Lambeth Palace | Leighton House Museum | Lincoln Cathedral | St Mary's Guildhall | York Theatre Royal | The Newt in Somerset

Cabin lift at Oriel College Oxford
Internal brushed stainless steel finishes of the lift at Oriel College Oxford
The lift features 2-panel automatic sliding doors
The lift at Oriel College Oxford has brushed stainless finishes inside and out
The lift at Oriel College Oxford East Range open at the first floor

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

Edes House

Edes House is a Grade I listed building in the heart of Chichester city centre. The building, completed in 1696, for John Edes has undergone several name changes over the years and was once thought to be originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren however this theory has been proved unlikely. The house was the location of West Sussex County Council offices from 1916 till 1936 before other uses by the council until 1989. After this date the building became a wedding and exhibition venue. 

The building has recently undergone a major refurbishment and Access Lifts were asked to tender for the external platform lift works. This would include removal of the existing redundant platform lift and design, supply and install of a new external scissor lift. Access Lifts were successful through the tender process and worked with the client's lift consultant, LECS UK, to specify the new scissor lift.

The specification would be for a high quality scissor platform lift.  Features of note include the 90º adjacent entry, bespoke upper landing gate with railing design, automatic openers at each level and powder-coated metalwork in Jet Black - RAL 9005 with brushed stainless steel accents. The lift needed to be of high quality and robust design due to the basement location of the lift as well as proximity to the sea. The lift construction is made out of hot-dipped galvanised steel with brushed stainless steel material found on the landing and platform operating panels. 

The existing lift was removed and new lift installed within 4 days. The new lift was installed prior to the busy summer season for weddings at the venue. 

Location: West Sussex

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2025

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

81 Colmore Row | 16 St Martin's Le Grand | Beaumont Hotel | Leighton House Museum | Lincoln Cathedral | Ridley Hall Cambridge 

The upper landing gate of the platform lift at Edes House features matching railings to the balustrade
The lower landing gate of the external platform lift at Edes House
The platform lift features hold to run controls with complete glass sides
The lift features automatic door openers at both landings
The lift's metalwork is finished in RAL 9005 - Jet Black
The lift replaced an existing lift that had become unusable

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

Lambeth Palace

Lambeth Palace is the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in London. It's a Grade I listed building with the oldest part of the current palace dating back to 13th century. The land was originally obtained by the archdiocese in around 1200 AD due to its proximity to both the Palace of Westminster and the City of London. The site is located just across the river from the House of Parliament, on the south bank of the River Thames. 

The lift is located within the cloisters kitchen area. Originally specified as a full speed passenger lift upon carrying out investigation works the main contractor, Walter Lilly, found that a pit depth for the passenger lift of 1200mm could not be formed. We offered a bespoke goods cabin lift that only required a 300mm pit and 2800mm headroom. This lift also maximises the available shaft space as it can be altered in 5mm increments in width and length. 

The lift features a 1270mm x 1900mm car with 1000mm wide 2 panel side opening automatic doors with a single entry arrangement. All surfaces of the lift car and doors are finished in brushed stainless steel due to its use within the kitchen. The lift also features a row of bump rails to prevent damage to the car. 

As part of the work package, Access Lifts also installed a small disabled platform lift in the cloisters corridor. The lift raises 410mm with a 1000mm x 1250mm platform due to size restrictions on site. 

Location: London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2025

To see projects similar to the Lambeth Palace click on the following links:

Leighton House Museum | Lincoln Cathedral | St Mary's Guildhall | York Theatre Royal | The Newt in Somerset | Royal Academy of Arts

The internal finishes of the lift in the kitchen at Lambeth Palace are brushed stainless steel
The COP features a landing indicator, call acceptance buzzer, arrival gong and voice annunciation.
The lift at Lambeth Palace features brushed stainless steel finishes with bump rails
The lift features 1000mm wide 2 panel side opening doors in brushed stainless steel
The lift at Lambeth Palace features a half height mirror on the rear wall to make it easier to use for disabled users
The lift also features a brushed stainless steel handrail

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

Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy of Arts was founded in 1768 in Pall Mall to offer a school of design for the use of students in the arts. Initially founded with a membership of 34 artists. The Academy moved between locations at Old Somerset House, the new wing at Somerset House and the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square before settling at Burlington House is 1868, 100 years after its inception and remains there till this day. In 1998 the Royal Academy acquired 6 Burlington Gardens, an Italianate building located adjacent to Burlington House. Design development has been ongoing since 2008 in order to bring the two Grade II* buildings together to unlock a free flowing conjoined space expanding the overall gallery and teaching areas for the Academy. 

Access Lifts worked with David Chipperfield Architects to specify a Hidden Platform Lift back in Summer 2021 as part of the renovation works bringing together the Royal Academy of Arts and 6 Burlington House. The main contract was won by Knight Harwood who Access Lifts have previously worked with at BAFTA, installing a lift to the main stage. The lift was installed in Spring 2024 and was finished with the original flagstones which were refurbished by the stonemasonry contractor. The lift metalwork was finished in brushed stainless steel to provide a clean finish. The lift features both an on platform control post and wireless remote control landings controls to allow the lift to be used completely independently.

The hidden platform lift is perfect for heritage projects offering discreet access whilst offering great functionality. 

Location: London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2024

To see projects similar to the Royal Academy of Arts click on the following links:

Leighton House Museum | Lincoln Cathedral | St Mary’s Guildhall | Ridley Hall, Cambridge | The Newt in Somerset | York Theatre Royal

A hidden platform lift in its down position at the foot of a set of steps
A hidden platform lift at the Royal Academy of Arts in its up position
The platform lift at the Royal Academy of Arts from the upper landing
The hidden platform lift at Burlington House in its rested position
A discreet platform lift at the Royal Academy
The invisible platform lift travelling towards the upper landing.
A view of the lower landing corridor with the hidden platform lift in its rested position.

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