Case studies

63 St James Street

A 135-year-old building in one of London's most tightly governed conservation areas, where the age of the fabric ruled out scaffolding to the side and rear elevations entirely. The access solution had to be redesigned before a single tube went up.

ITC
Client
63 weeks (2019–2021)
Duration
63 St James's St, London SW1A 1LY
Location
Heritage Site
Sector
22,000 sq ft across 7 floors.
Building Size
ITC
Client
63 weeks (2019–2021)
Duration
63 St James's St, London SW1A 1LY
Location
Heritage Site
Sector
22,000 sq ft across 7 floors.
Building Size

Heritage access and shrink-wrap encapsulation in a royal conservation area.

A neo-classical building designed in 1888, a Portland stone façade with Baroque embellishment, and a location in one of London's most tightly governed conservation areas. When Cititrust appointed ITC to refurbish 63 St James's Street and add a new floor and roof terrace above it, access could not be improvised. The building's age ruled out scaffolding to the side and rear elevations entirely. Everything had to be re-engineered around those constraints before a single tube went up.

  • The Challenge

    The challenge

    63 St James’s Street was built by architects Davis and Emmanuel in 1888 as the home of the Meistersingers Club. The Royal Societies Club occupied it from 1894 until 1941. By 1945 it had become offices for John Walker and Sons, distillers. Over 130 years of use, the building had accumulated the complexity that comes with age — a Portland stone façade requiring specialist restoration, a conservation area setting with strict appearance requirements, and a structural character that made conventional scaffolding unviable on multiple elevations.

    The refurbishment scope was substantial: a vertical extension to merge the roof areas and create additional floor space, a new roof terrace, full Cat A fit-out across seven floors, and comprehensive internal and external redecoration. The Portland stone façade required cleaning, re-pointing, mortar repairs, and natural stone repairs throughout. All of it needed access. The building’s age and fabric meant the side and rear elevations could not take a conventional tied scaffold. The design had to adapt.

    St James’s is not a forgiving environment for construction. The street is home to some of London’s oldest private members’ clubs, galleries, and wine merchants. Public protection and visual presentation are not optional considerations — they are requirements of working in this postcode.

    Covid-19 added workforce management demands across the programme, with social distancing protocols implemented from the outset to maintain site continuity.

  • Our Solution

    Our solution

    We developed an adapted scaffold design that delivered full access to all areas without relying on the side and rear elevations for structural support. Where conventional tie points were not available, the design was re-engineered to provide stable working platforms across the entire perimeter using alternative fixing and support methods.

    Shrink-wrap encapsulation provided full weather protection across the building envelope during the external redecoration and façade restoration works, protecting the Portland stone and the surrounding streetscape throughout. Public protection gantries managed pedestrian safety on St James’s Street for the duration of the programme.

    A goods hoist and beam hoist managed vertical material movement, supporting the flow of fit-out materials, steelwork for the vertical extension, and glazing across seven floors. Access solutions were provided to all internal areas throughout, supporting ITC’s programme across the fit-out, the extension, and the new roof terrace simultaneously.

    Social distancing guidelines were implemented across the site team from the outset, with minimal disruption to programme as a result.

  • The Outcome

    The outcome

    The project completed in June 2021, delivering 22,000 sq ft of Grade A office space across seven floors, with a new rooftop extension providing meeting rooms and a terrace with views across central London. The building achieved a BREEAM rating and now offers new lifts, a reception area, and hi-spec end-of-trip facilities.

    The Portland stone façade was cleaned and restored to a standard appropriate to one of London’s most scrutinised conservation areas. A building that had served London institutions for over 130 years entered a new chapter as a high-quality commercial address in St James’s.

  • Key Figures

    22,000 sq ft · 7 floors · Full perimeter scaffolding · Adapted design for side and rear elevations · Shrink-wrap encapsulation · Public protection gantries · Goods hoist and beam hoist · Vertical extension and new roof terrace · Portland stone façade restored · BREEAM rated · Delivered during Covid-19 pandemic

Services required

Commercial Fit-out Scaffolding

Heritage Site Scaffolding

Hoists & Lifting Structures

Shrink Wrap & Advertising

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