Client: Alrov Properties & Lodgings
Status: Completed December 2012
Role: Project Manager
Sector: Hospitality
Alrov Properties & Lodgings, Hotel Cafe Royal, 5-star 160 room (including 15 suites). Refurbishment of a grade ll listed building, converting three buildings into one, taking the basement down two levels, creating an atrium, major structural façade repairs, adjacent highways works and allowance for a combined heat and power (CHP) system.
The project involved working with sensitive stakeholders such as The Crown Estate, Piccadilly community, Transport for London, English Heritage etc.
The range of stakeholders gives an indication of the nature of challenges involved in delivering this project. However, the key factor is the site sits over Piccadilly Circus and this added major constraints together with significant access challenges. In addition, a similar major project was in progress nearby and both projects were separated by Glasshouse Street. This demanded a coordinated logistics plan to allow both projects to be serviced simultaneously. The logistics also had to consider the refurbishment of the highways paving around the Piccadilly
Circus as this was also taking place simultaneously. The project constraints further included a CHP system that was based in the adjacent project. This introduced issues in regard to the temporary electric, and the final testing and commissioning demanded sophisticated negotiation.
The role of our employee was to lead the project as the project manager pre contract, employer’s representative during the construction phase and post contract duties to support the mobilisation of the business during the phased handover.