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.

One Queen Anne’s Gate

One Queen Anne's Gate is a development of 27 luxury apartments in the heart of London. The development runs adjacent to St James's Park and is a stone's throw away from Westminster. The building comprises of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments as well as a penthouse with wraparound terraces offering views of central London. In addition to the apartments, One Queen Anne's Gate features amenities similar to a private members club and an underground car park. The main entrance at the front of the One Queen Anne's Gate has 4 steps from the pavement into the ground floor, unfortunately due to the nature of the steps a hidden platform lift could not be installed. Therefore an alternative access route had to be found with the garage entrance being chosen as the most viable. The garage features an underground car lift which allows residents to park their cars on subterranean levels. We were approached by Blue Sky Building, the principal contractor, who were looking for a platform lift which would provide access from street level into the main reception and concierge area.

The lift travels 1020mm between the two levels with a platform measuring 1100mm wide by 1400mm deep which allows even the largest motorised wheelchairs to be conveyed. In addition the lift has a rated load of 400kg and was finished in RAL 7015 (Slate Grey) at the architect's request. This platform lift doesn't require a pit so means that building work is kept to a minimum, all it requires is a supporting wall which the lift's "legs" fix into.

Lincoln Cathedral

We were approached by Simpson & Brown who were appointed principal designers for the refurbishment and construction of brand new facilities at Lincoln Cathedral. Lincoln Cathedral, consecrated in 1092, is located in the very heart of Lincoln and was once the tallest building in the world till its central spire collapsed in 1548. The Cathedral had recently won £16m in Heritage Lottery Fund to create the Lincoln Cathedral Connected project. This project would include a complete modernisation and refurbishment of parts of the cathedral with the introduction of a brand new education centre, café, shop and community spaces. Due to the nature of the building, level access was not possible across all of these additions therefore a variety of lifts were needed to make the site fully accessible. William Birch Construction were appointed Principal Contractor and we worked with them to deliver this lift package.

The first lift is a hidden traversing lift in the main reception area, the lift raises 350mm and traverses 480mm to meet the top step. This hidden lift features 100mm high roll off protection so that the user remains on the platform and finishes flush with the floor. It can be finished in any flooring up to a depth of 22mm which makes the platform run seamlessly into the rest of the floor. The lift is finished with remote controls so that a member of staff can raise the lift when a visitor needs to use it. The pit requirement for this lift is only 155mm.

The second lift is a cabin lift with fully automatic sliding doors, the same as a traditional passenger lift. The major difference between this lift and a passenger lift is that the pit and headroom requirement is considerably reduced. A passenger lift would require over a metre pit and 3400mm headroom whilst this lift requires only 130mm pit and 2150mm headroom. Due to the historic and archaeological nature of the site all 4 lift options were chosen with the shallowest pit depth possible. This lift provides access across two floors of the newly constructed education centre.

The third lift is an outdoor platform lift that allows access to the courtyard area with a travel of 700mm and is finished with the same wooden decking as the upper level and adjacent stairwell. The lift is made out of hot-dipped galvanised steel which is then powder-coated to provide a finish that will last over time. This means that the less maintenance costs are greatly reduced and the courtyard is accessible for longer.

The fourth lift provides access to the exhibition area of the centre and only needs a pit of 65mm. The lift has a modern look with reduced steel framework and large glass panels which match the contemporary aesthetic within the exhibition centre. We colour matched the adjacent stairwell so that the lift was finished in the same shade of black.

Bespoke Hidden Lift in a New Bond Street Boutique

We were approached by 3Interiors who were carrying out the refurbishment of a brand new New Bond Street boutique. They were looking for a discreet form of disabled access that would blend in with the modern aesthetic of the store. 3Interiors is an interior design contractor that specialises in commercial retail, bars and restaurants as well as having undertaken private residential projects. Bond Street is the London home for the world's major fashion houses and brands. The difficulty that the New Bond Street boutique store faced was that they had a split level with a narrow stairwell leading front the main shop floor to other retail space. The difference between the floor levels was 750mm, a Part M compliant ramp would have to total over 15 metres in length for this rise. A ramp of this length would not have even fit in the shop and so was never a considered option. The narrow width of the stairs would make a traditional platform lift difficult to install and would involve altering the preexisting layout of the store.

The two options available in order to keep the existing stairwell would be to have a collapsable stairwell similar to our project at Chiswell Street or a hidden platform lift. Both would provide the necessary access and leave the stairwell free when not in use. However the collapsable stairwell would require a greater pit depth which would then require more structural work above the basement. The hidden platform lift at the New Bond Street boutique offers disabled access, connecting the main shop floor with the rest of the retail space. The lift rises 750mm and travels 1200mm across to meet the top step. The lift features detachable stainless steel handrails which are fitted when the lift is used. The top tray was given to the tiling company in advance of the installation in which they fitted the same handmade Italian terrazzo tiles to match the surrounding floor.

The Swan at Streatley

The Swan at Streatley is a 17th century hotel on the banks of the River Thames, around 11 miles from Reading. The Hotel recently underwent a £12 million refurbishment including a new restaurant, redesigned rooms and a Coppa Club. The Coppa Club is a take on a private members club with a 380 cover restaurant, a large bar, fireplaces, events rooms and a private dinning room overlooking the river. Other Coppa Clubs are situated on the Thames at Henley, Sonning, Maidenhead and the most well known on the north bank by Tower Bridge in London.

During the renovation we were asked by Quadrant Design, having worked with them on projects at Venture House in Reading and Wagamama Wigmore Street, to install two platform lifts. The first, outside of the restaurant, travels a total of 800mm linking the restaurant with the covered terrace on the banks fo the river. The second, outside of the riverside function room, also travels 800mm which allows guests to access the small island off of the main hotel's ground to enjoy all the river has to offer. The lifts were finished in the same dark grey colour as the windows and door frames. They feature non skid platforms so that even in the rain the lifts can be used quickly and safely. Both platforms measure 1100mm x 1400mm and have rated loads of 300kg so even the largest electric wheelchairs can be accommodated. Both lifts are designed to withstand even the harshest of conditions and as you can see in the photos they can easily cope with the British summer.

The lifts were installed in time for the hotels grand reopening in July 2019.

Chelsea Flower Show 2019

The Chelsea Flower Show is the key event in the horticultural calendar and one of, if not, the most famous flower and garden show in the world. It attracts over 150,000 visitors including members of the Royal Family as well as celebrities. This year the Duchess of Cambridge has designed a back-to-nature garden whilst the charity that the Duchess of Sussex supports, Camfed, won a gold medal. The Show takes places on the 11 acre land of the Chelsea Royal Hospital, on the Chelsea Embankment. In just 25 days the site transforms from lawn and gravel pathways to an amass of colour with gardens surrounding the main pavilion.

We were approached by representatives of the Greenfingers Charity and Kate Gould Gardens who were creating an accessible garden for the Chelsea Flower Show 2019. Greenfingers is a charity that creates outdoor spaces for a number of children hospices. Since their inception they've created 55 gardens across the country. Their gardens include space where children can play as well as sensory gardens where they can relax and have therapeutic rest. The Charity needed a garden that would be accessible and would include interactive features for children.

Kate was tasked with designing and bringing the concept to life. Kate is a Chelsea gold medal-winning garden designer, however this was her first show garden on the main avenue. The garden would feature an accessible ramp to the lower floor with interactive items throughout the lower level. From the original concept Kate wanted an upper level where visitors could find a new perspective on the garden therefore she needed a way of visitors reaching the upper deck. The original concept of the garden included a water lift. A water lift uses a pump to transfer water into two weights which would then cause the lift to ascend. The concept behind a water lift is incredible however it brings its own unique set of challenges. These are whether it can meet modern health and safety regulation and whether it will stand up to the constant use that the Show demands. After several consultations between Kate Gould Gardens, Access Lifts and independent lift consultants the result was that it would be too challenging to include the water lift design in the garden.

The Greenfingers Charity Garden would be the first garden in the Show's history to feature a lift. The lift is an open platform that travels 2.8 metres to the upper deck, enclosed by a fully glazed shaft. The lift didn't require a pit so there is a small ramp on the platform. At Kate's request the lift was sprayed Emerald Green (RAL 6001). When we first saw the lift after it had been sprayed we thought that it could be too much. However once installed the lift blended perfectly into the lush garden. The whole garden was completed within the 25 day limit. Once the Chelsea Flower Show 2019 officially opened, the garden (and lift) was in constant use. The Monday of the Show, reserved for the press and VIPs, saw many celebrities inspecting the garden and using the lift to get to the upper deck. Much of the BBC's coverage took place on the upper level of the garden due to its viewpoint over a large proportion of main avenue. On Tuesday Kate was awarded a silver-gilt medal for her effort. An incredible achievement for the first garden at RHS Chelsea with a lift.

Hidden Traversing Lift at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

We were approached by a representative of the National Trust as they were looking for a way for less-able visitors to access the lower level of the shop at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Sissinghurst Castle Garden was bought by the writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson in 1930, with various buildings around the site dating back to the 1530s. Sackville-West and Nicolson restored many of the buildings and designed the layout and style of the now famous gardens. It is one of the National Trust's most visited sites and one of the world's most well known gardens. Due to their cultural significance and high quality the gardens are Grade I listed along with the main Sissinghurst Castle building.

The site of the lift is in the modern day shop which used to be the Old Piggery attached to the granary. The particular challenges of creating disabled access in the shop were that a ramp would have to be over 4.5 metres long plus a 1.5 metre clear space at the bottom of the ramp in order to accommodate the difference between floor levels. This wasn't feasible as the total width of the lower floor was under 4 metres. A traditional platform lift would take up at least 1400mm x 1100mm of retail space and then a 900mm door on both levels would impact the retail space even further. This would have disrupted both the till area and lower level of the shop. Even though it was feasible the disruption and the space that the lift would take up would damage the retail space for the shop.

The best solution was to have a hidden platform lift by the steps in the middle of the shop that wouldn't need any gates. The lift would provide the necessary disabled access but when not in use it would be completely flat matching the surrounding quarry tile floor. The way the lift recedes into the ground allows users to get onto the lift from both sides of the shop and allows the shop staff to have a seasonal table close to the lift as seen in the photos below. When not in use the lift can be walked on and becomes part of the floor.

To see more examples hidden lifts like the one at Sissinghurst Castle Garden click on the following links:

200 Grays Inn Road | Devonshire Club | Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art | 24 Chiswell Street | Venture House

To see more examples of our work in listed buildings click on the following links:

British Library | York Theatre Royal | Dancing Man Brewery | National Theatre | Hotel du Vin Poole

Platform Lift in Wagamama Wigmore Street

Quadrant Design, an architectural practice based in Reading, were in charge of designing the layout of a new Wagamama restaurant on Wigmore Street in central London. Wagamama is a popular Japanese restaurant with over 130 locations in the UK and a total of over 190 worldwide. Wigmore Street runs parallel to Oxford Street with Regent's Park to the north and Hyde Park to the south-west. Its central location means there is a large collection of restaurants supplying both offices and tourists alike. Quadrant are specialists in restaurant design having created restaurants for the likes of Pizza Express, Tortilla and Coppa Club. Quadrant needed a way for wheelchair using customers to get from the entrance at street level down to the main restaurant area, 660mm lower. We met with the architect and site manager at Wagamama, Wigmore Street to discuss the aesthetic they were looking for and how this could be achieved.

The platform lift at Wagamama Wigmore Street would be replacing a pre-existing ramp. As we've found with several restaurants there is a conflict between whether to go for a lift or a ramp. Ramps are usually more affordable however they take up table space and so limit the amount of covers the restaurant can have at any one time. This then impacts the long term profitability of the restaurant. The architect decided that the lift would be the better option. The overall footprint of the lift is 1350mm x 1700mm, which equals 2.23m². On the other hand a DDA compliant ramp with a rise of 635mm would have a footprint of nearly 15.5m². Comparing the restaurant before and after refurbishment, the surplus space equates to at least 20 covers. This shows how a lift can maximise a restaurant's potential and boost its overall profits. The lift's platform measure 1100mm x 1400m with glass doors and panels on all 4 sides to match the modern aesthetic of the restaurant. The metalwork was finished in the same dark grey used in the rest of the restaurant. The lift was installed in time for Wagamama Wigmore Street's grand opening.

To see some of our projects that are similar to Wagamama Wigmore Street click on the following links:
Devonshire Club | Cheltenham Racecourse | Hotel du Vin Poole | Audi Northampton | Sissinghurst Castle Garden

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.

platform lift

Laystall Street – Hidden Platform Lift

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Eardley House – Glass Platform Lift

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One Queen Anne’s Gate

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Lincoln Cathedral

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Bespoke Hidden Lift in a New Bond Street Boutique

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The Swan at Streatley

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Chelsea Flower Show 2019

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Hidden Traversing Lift at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

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Platform Lift in Wagamama Wigmore Street

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Platform Lift at Brunel House, Cardiff

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