William Blake Windows and Redecorations – Design Team

Overview

The City of London Corporation wished to procure a multi-disciplinary design team to undertake principal designer duties, deliver the pre-planning and full planning applications, produce specifications and cost plans ready to tender for the works, and undertake contract administration duties for the Window Replacement and Associated Works project at William Blake Estate. The successful consultant was to survey the existing windows and external doors (where located within window sets) to determine how the existing windows were to be removed and replaced with new, efficient contemporary windows which would achieve Listed Building Consent. In conjunction with the window replacements, particular consideration was essential to ensure that adequate ventilation was incorporated within the design proposals. Each block had its own set of windows in various fenestrations, which consisted mainly of timber-framed single-glazed sliding sash windows. The consultant was expected to review previously approved planning applications and undertake any additional surveys for each block and window type before submitting new pre-planning applications (including a summary of options) and then subsequently using the advice to submit the full planning application. During the planning process, the consultant was expected to review previous planning submissions and responses and build the new specifications ready to tender either via a compliant open tender process or via a nominated framework. Subject to full planning permissions, the consultant would submit a specification to accompany City of London tender documents. The requirements for the new windows were to protect the building from external conditions, provide privacy and security, improve the acoustic performance, provide thermal insulation, aid in the external fabric’s resistance to the spread of fire, provide access to daylight, provide controllable ventilation, resist wind loadings, and provide protection from falling and impact. The Corporation also intended to incorporate various associated works into this window replacement package, in order to maximise efficiencies and ensure that its landlord responsibilities were fully met. Although the window replacement element was undoubtedly a key component of the works, a holistic approach was considered most appropriate at that stage, in respect of the blocks’ external envelope.