Hackney Town Hall Restoration Completed

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Associated Steel Window Services has recently completed the refurbishment of the windows and doors for Hackney Town Hall in East London.

Hackney Town Hall is a Grade II, art-deco style building and one of the capital’s most recognisable municipal properties. The entire repair and modernisation project has taken a decade to complete since planning permission and listed building consent were obtained.

 “Given the very large number of windows to be restored, over a long period of time, getting the right contractor to carry out the work was fundamental to the success of the refurbishment project overall.”

– Matthew Coleman 

Project Manager, Geoffrey Osborne

Double glazed

The design and build project was managed by Geoffrey Osborne with Hawkins Brown architects. ASWS was the specialist sub-contractor tasked with removing, repairing and reinstating the 80-year old universal suite section windows, as well as producing new W20 doorsets for new function areas.

Geoffrey Osborne's Coleman adds: "ASWS is not only a specialist in such work but possibly the only company at that time which was able to install a double glazed unit into that profile. It was a strong selling point and we were happy with the service provided throughout the project.”

Complex arched heads

Hackney Town Hall was constructed in 1937, with the large multi-section steel windows fitted directly into the stone facades which left them vulnerable to weathering and corrosion. While many of the frames measured 800 x 1800mm, those bringing light to the council chamber itself were up to five metres in height with complex arched heads.

Working closely with Geoffrey Osborne’s site management team on each phase of the work, ASWS removed the frames to its Croydon workshop, where they were shot-blasted. Where necessary, damaged sections were replaced. A primer coat was factory-applied and all of the old ironmongery was saved and refitted before the frames were returned to site. Once reinstalled, the frames were hand-painted with undercoats and two top coats.

Energy efficiency

Slim-line glazing units were fitted to help improve the building’s energy efficiency. These featured a 6.4 mm laminated inner pane, with a 6mm gas filled cavity and a 4mm toughened outer pane. The old style putty lines were reproduced using mastic pointing.

Doors

ASWS also fabricated a dozen double-glazed doorsets using W20 steel sections. These have been installed in the formerly redundant internal light-wells in the building which have been reconfigured to create marriage suites or event spaces.

Picture: Hackney Town Hall.

Photo credit: Grant Smith Photographer

www.asws.co.uk

Article written by John Roper
11th January 2021

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