The Challenge
One of the key client requirements was to ensure sales, operations and other core activities could be continued throughout the entire construction period. This created challenges in programming and coordinating the works, and our management of this with the contractor was critical. As with most buildings in Mayfair, the design needed to allow the maximisation of usage of the space and the salerooms were designed for both exhibiting and subsequent sales with the turnaround time being minimised by the development of bespoke, demountable display cases and sales rostrums.
As well as building on a constrained site in Mayfair the project required careful co-ordination with the Crossrail development which was undertaking critical works within a few metres of the Bonham’s site. Our understanding of highly constrained and complex inner city sites enabled us to map out and plan this aspect of the project properly from the outset and continually liaise and monitor Crossrail’s work so that clashes with our construction programme were minimised.
The Outcome
Features of the new six-storey building include façades of reconstituted stone panels, a helical staircase of oak and blue steel, double-height salesrooms with a private “skybox” viewing room, day-lit workspaces for Bonhams’ specialist staff, and four scenic glass lifts that allow light to flood into the upper floors of the building.
This challenging project was completed in October 2013 and with the sale of the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars being the first major sale achieving record prices.
The project has won many industry accolades, including the 2014 BCIA Building Project of the Year (£10-50m category) and a RIBA 2015 Regional Award and RIBA 2015 National Award.