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The Last Word Café for The British Library
Servaccomm have the Last Word
The British Library, built in the 20th century and home to over 150 million treasures of cultural interest, was looking to enhance its surroundings by adding a stylish Café to its popular piazza.
Client: The British Library
Customer: Creative Consulting
Project: The manufacture of a catering facility for the British Library
Building Specification: Bespoke modern designed steel framed single module. Manufactured to meet the highest quality and specifications to include curtain walling to three elevations, suspended ceiling cool/heat climate control, automatic doors and ceramic flooring.
Contract value: £128k
Project size: Single Modular Building of 60 square metres.
Contract details: The manufacture of The Last Word Café for the British Library, providing refreshments for their many visitors. Installation took place during the early hours of Sunday before final completion on site.
The British Library offered the challenge to Buckinghamshite-based project management and consultancy firm, Creative Consulting Partnership, who quickly realised that due to the location and timescale requirements, traditional building methods would not be compatible.
The piazza itself was situated above the rare books section and would not be capable of coping with the heavy loads associated with such traditional building techniques. Furthermore, site access was extremely limited due to the buildings close proximity to the busy Euston road area in London.
A speedy building solution was required, so the Creative Consulting Partnership has to select a company that was able to operate under seriously restrictive conditions. This was an ideal opportunity to utilise the benefits associated with modular offsite construction techniques – manufactured in a controlled factory environment, deliver to site with all internal fixtures and fittings installed, together with a prompt handover. Servaccomm was therefore commissioned to work in partnership with Creative consulting to plan and design detailed drawings for the structure.
Servaccomm proceeded to manufacture a one-storey building that would be capable of being in position within a matter of days. A sleek, contemporary Café with suspended ceilings, glazing curtain walling to three elevations, automated doors, air conditioning, full ceramic floors and dry-lined internal wall finishing was constructed. The building was lowered into position in the early hours of a Sunday morning and all that was left to complete the project was to plug in the utilities, prepare the seating area and fit a disabled ramp. Ten days later, The Last Word Café was up and running, serving tea and cream buns to its avid literary clientele.
