London & South East

McAleer & Rushe to deliver two hotels at 46-49 Blackfriars Road for the London Olympics

Blackfriars Rd HotelsTwo new hotels are being built on 46-49 Blackfriars Road,  Southwark, London. McAleer & Rushe are carrying out the design and build scheme, which will see the development transformed into the 4* Novotel London Blackfriars and 2* Ibis London Blackfriars hotels. The project began in November 2010 and is expected to completeprior to the London Olympic Games in 2012.

The development is situated close to the cultural quarter along the south bank of the River Thames, which includes Tate Modern, Oxo Tower and The Globe Theatre.

The 182 bedroom, 4* Novotel will comprise twelve business suites, six meeting rooms (approximately 250 sq m of conference space), bar, restaurant and full leisure facilities, including a swimming pool. The 297 bedroom 2*Ibis hotel will offer guests bar and restaurant facilities, including a 24-hour snack and drink service.

The ground floor of the development is rectangular in shape and above this, the building is comprised of three connected blocks that create a roughly H-shaped form, from 1st to 6th floor levels. On the 7th to the 13th floor, the building shape alters as it is set away from MeymBlackfriars Rd Hotelsott Street. At the north-east corner of the development, there are two access points to the 4* Novotel reception lobby. The 2*Ibis hotel is accessed via a lobby in the south eastern corner of the site, off Blackfriars Road.

The development’s facade is constructed with a Technocrete concrete panel affixed to a concrete framed structure with MAS 50 curtain walling inserts and MAS60 vent inserts. Internally, the partitions will be formed using plasterboard, dry lining and blockwork. The hotel rooms are accessed off staircases and  two main lift cores and each room is single aspect.

On Meymott Street, a vehicular drop off area and access to the servicing bay is provided, whilst along Blackfriars Road a coach and taxi lay-by is proposed for drop off and pick up only.Blackfriars Rd Hotels

Peter Devlin from McAleer & Rushe said: “Work is progressing very well. We are currently working on the reinforced concrete frame, and are on the tenth of fourteen flours. The building has been constructed to meet Section 20 requirements and achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent.’ We have been making very good progress because all the teams have worked well together to overcome any challenges.”

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