The Natwest Tower, London

Multi-deck space frame system

Standing a magnificent 47 storeys and nearly 200M in height the Natwest Tower (now known as Tower 42) sits in the heart of London’s financial district. The building was severely damaged following the tragic 1993 Bishopsgate bombing. Demolition was deemed to be hazardous and expensive and access from all other areas was highly restricted.

The Alternative Access Logistics management team took on the challenge to re-clad and refurbish one of the most iconic buildings in London.

The building’s curved facades coupled with restricted access from ground level created numerous problems for conventional access methods. Work also had to be conducted in the midst of the congested urban fabric of London without interruption to other businesses. The pioneering solution was borne from the need to engineer a tailored access solution: The suspended multi-deck wrap around space frame platform.

The system allowed complete man access to all the facades at three separate levels, from inside and outside simultaneously.

A light weight and robust modular space frame formed the base of the platform with each frame custom designed to fit.

The rooftop mobile suspension allowed the platforms to be moved and repositioned as necessary, even in mid air, in complete safety. The platforms also included a materials handling system to cope with the large payloads of the panels and a complete retractable weatherproofing / protection system.

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