Recent work on London’s prestigious Claridge’s Hotel, saw MEP specialist Kane invest in the Holobuilder digital platform to add to its existing digital expertise and make smooth progress on a complicated scheme.
An iconic building in the heart of Mayfair, Claridge’s Hotel has undergone a colossal extension, with five floors underground. Appointed by the Maybourne Group, Kane designed, prefabricated and installed the £12million Energy Centre successfully, exceeding client expectations. The scope of works encompassed a Basement Energy Centre and Basement Works. The project ‘mega basement’ comprised of combined heat and power systems, gas fired boilers, chillers and plate heat exchangers.
Holobuilder provides access to 360-degree progress photos which are organised by location and time, enabling a walkthrough of each project remotely as if you were there. From the outset, the team scanned a one-toone digital copy of the background building before commencing design works. This allowed the team to measure the exact position of column walls within millimetre accuracy, allowing a precise background model to be built. The design team used Revit fabrication to design the pipework, fixtures, fittings, steel support framework models, pump skids and heavy plant. Authored in Revit, Kane’s in-house team designed the layout of all services at high and low level using its co-location virtual reality bespoke rooms.
Collaboration between the design, prefabrication, and operations teams was undertaken to analyse the model using Navisworks, to detect internal clashes within the structure at the design stage and ensure zero co-ordination issues throughout the installation process. Autodesk Navisworks allowed the team to analyse and sequence the works. This was critical as the project was very constrained for space, using a single small entry point for all pipework which was lowered five levels below ground.
The co-ordination of the setting out points, the technology to geolocate thousands of specific points within the structure for fixtures and fittings, such as steelwork supports, hanging points and ductwork, each with unique reference points, ensured a seamless on-site installation. Kane’s in-house prefabrication facilities enabled early on-site construction, increased the speed of installation, lowered manpower in the confined space and reduced the requirement for hot works by 80%. All its prefabrication works went through a rigorous quality control procedure which was pre-tested before delivered to site. As part of its BIM protocol, Kane provided COBie compliant families, cross referencing BIM Level 2 designs for manufacturing and used its in-house bespoke Procurement App enabling digital ‘take off’s’ which was meant a streamlined ordering process.
Both the client and AECOM were hugely positive about the relationship development with Kane and the overall project delivery. The client has recognised that the design innovation and offsite prefabrication was key to the success of the project and additionally awarded Kane with an extended Scope of Works that included more hotel central works. Client representative, Mark Allen, from Rainey & Best said: “Kane delivered an outstanding Energy Centre contract at Claridge’s Hotel. Kane provided solutions, through their in-house digital and prefabrication expertise, to overcome the complexities of the constrained site five levels below ground. We were confident that they could deliver this project and they did just that, superbly."
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