Buxton Crescent Hotel and Thermal Spa
Buxton, UK
Project synopsis
Temporary works design for extensive refurbishment of a Grade I listed hotel, whilst protecting the thermal springs underneath.
Contractor
VINCI
End client
The Buxton Crescent Thermal Spa Co
Awards
ICE Large Project Award 2019 - Highly Commended
The Grade I listed Crescent building is a 79‐bedroom luxury hotel, with the refurbished Georgian Assembly Rooms as the centrepiece. The neighbouring Natural Baths is Grade II listed with three swimming pools, saunas and treatment rooms. Tony Gee worked alongside VINCI to ensure that the refurbishments works was completed safely, with the defining Georgian features of the buildings retained for future generations to enjoy.
We carried all temporary works designs from conceptual to detailed design, liaising with VINCI and AECOM, to ensure each proposal were suitable, effective and favourable to all interested parties. The hotel company and Project Heritage Group encouraged us to find alternative solutions to structural problems, all driven by the requirement to preserve and protect important heritage features across the site.
The temporary works equipment utilised on the project was proprietary but the application of the materials has been non‐conventional.
By inspecting the site at an early stage in the design, the factors could be accommodated and a safe, practical solution agreed. In the majority of cases, non‐intrusive methods were used to obtain information, such as laser cloud surveys to capture large areas of congested structure, ground‐penetrating radar to reveal routes of flues in walls, or endoscopes have been employed to examine hidden or inaccessible parts.
Detailed sequencing of the works is considered a part of the design. All design processes started with a discussion around how the temporary works would be installed, focusing on logistics and limitations of the working area and Tony Gee explained the installation and risks to the site team.
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