The Tower, One St George Wharf

Project
Summary

This 51 storey tower, 181m high, represented the final phase of the St George’s Wharf development at Vauxhall, and when completed was the tallest exclusively residential tower in Europe, enjoying unparalleled 360-degree views over Central London. The efficient circular form provides a high ratio of external wall to enclosed space.

There are different configurations of apartment spaces on different floors, ranging from single bedroom apartments to penthouses, numbering 223 apartments in total.

Scope

High performance ventilated cavity (triple glazed) unitised façade, with integrated motorised venetian blinds.

Steel and glass stick systems in the ground floor areas.

Manual tilt & slide and motorised parallel motion pantograph opening windows.

Glazed entrance systems, with powered doors.

Terraces, doors, privacy screens and full height glass balustrades.

Key
Facts

51 floors

3000 Motorised Venetian Blinds integrated within façade cavities

Winter gardens featuring double-width sliding windows

20,000m2 of façade

Facing
challenges

The design intent was to employ an internally ventilated double skin facade to the principle external walls, with ‘frameless’ glass doors internally for cavity access. The cavities incorporated motorised Venetian blinds connected to the BMS, and excess heat from the cavities was exhausted by connections within the spandrel area to the M & E Plant. Winter gardens were incorporated within sectors of each floor, which featured double-width sliding windows to maximise views from the Tower. Natural ventilation is provided by motorised parallel-opening pantograph windows, again connected to the BMS.

Off-site
Prefabrication

The building features numerous ‘winter gardens’ which were designed with sliding window systems,  manufactured off-site in China, and shipped as completed assemblies, and installed from the floor slabs. This significantly improves site installation times and interfaces, whilst maximising the quality associated with off-site fabrication.

Site
Challenges

The installation of the facade in relation to the climbing frame of the framing contractor was critical and required strict adherence to the planned delivery and installation sequence. This was achieved by close cooperation with the Main Contractor and the framing contractor. The desired construction programme was achieved by maximising the use of prefabrication across the entire project. This approach is key to achieving consistent quality within an aggressive programme, and to ensure that safety of the site operatives remains at the top of the agenda.