The Wardian was conceived as a development which would set new standards for high rise living among London’s bustling Canary Wharf. With a two tower design reaching 55 and 50 stories respectively, it provides 766 high grade residences ranging from suites to one or two bed apartments and luxurious penthouse accommodation. The striking geometric forms designed in collaboration with Glenn Howells architects are instantly recognisable, not least for their slender, elegant profiles with distinctive wraparound balconies. The bold modern design is tempered by greenery and roof gardens.
The client brief called for a system of two Building Maintenance Units, one on each tower, to provide complete facade coverage. The significant overhang at the two story penthouse accommodation presents a particular challenge. The solution CoxGomyl developed encompasses two BMUs both travelling on a twin track around the perimeter of each tower. These BMUs provide an outreach of 5.75 metres and are returned to a designated garage area in order to avoid any negative impact on the clean lines of the building design. A special cradle facilitates comprehensive access to all facade surfaces with a side mounted rotating pod in addition to a 3.5 metre main cradle. This incorporates programmable logic controller (PLC) guidance for the facade restraint system to deliver easy and convenient access to overhanging sections. The full building maintenance system also includes an auxiliary materials hoist with a weight capacity of 620kg for glass panel replacement tasks.
The constant upkeep of a luxurious development such as this is a major factor in its success and the professional access solution provided by CoxGomyl convinced the client that the brand’s reputation for excellence was well earned.