Engineering a complex structure
The structure has reached its ultimate height through a pioneering engineering feat. There were previously six buildings on the site and The Lazari Building reuses around 50% of their structures and fabric. Adjusting 34 level changes between the original buildings provides level floorplates across the site.
Floors were lifted by various heights to bring them into line. The heaviest single lift, at 820 tonnes, raised five floors of the former Salisbury House on New Bond Street by 838mm.
Three retained facades on New Bond Street were lifted between 1.2 metres and 5.2 metres. The key objective was to create world class retail spaces befitting one of the most prestigious shopping streets on the planet. Ground floor retail will have clear heights of up to 5.6 metres.
The transparent frontages, high ceilings and volume will create some of the most accessible, flexible and dramatic retail spaces on New Bond Street.
Above the retained structure, a cascade of high-end offices and amenity terraces is formed from a more conventional structure – a steel frame supporting cross-laminated timber slabs.
The view from the top
Supported by this complex structure, the top of The Lazari Building is among the highest in Mayfair, where it sits on the corner of New Bond Street and Brook Street, one block from Hanover Square and the Elizabeth Line.
The 10th floor roof garden with its pavilion servery affords 360-degree panoramic views across London, which will be enjoyed by leading international law firm McDermott Will & Schulte when they make the 115,000 sq ft office space their London home.
Celebrating a milestone
Len Lazari and David Silverman led the speeches at a topping out celebration on 29 July, acknowledging the “engineering marvel” in jacking massive floor plates and masonry facades into new positions. “Instead of tearing down the past we have literally lifted it into the future,” said David.
Congratulated for achievements to date were structural contractor Erith, structural engineer/sustainability consultant Buro Happold and architect Foster + Partners, together with project manager Gardiner & Theobald, cost consultant AECOM and planning consultants Newmark.
Erith presented Lazari with a gift and memento of the day, “Lifting London,” a piece of the temporary steel work that lifted the massive facades.
Around 100 guests joined the directors, Len, Nicholas, Andrie and David, and the wider team at the topping out ceremony and a reception at Lazari’s office nearby on St George Street. The team was pleased to welcome guests from future office occupier McDermott Will & Schulte and, from Westminster City Council, Cllr Geoff Barraclough, who was Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development at the time the project was approved, and ward member for the West End, Cllr Elizabeth Amos.
With completion of the structure, main contractor Faithdean takes over the site from Erith and concluding comments wished Faithdean well for the next stages of construction.
