Piling works underway

The piling works are now well underway. This picture shows the steel supports that are being inserted into the ground. Each hole is half a metre in diameter and 9 metres in depth. That's about the same height as the main elevation of the hall. In total, around 300 tons of steel will be put into the ground to support the structure of the new glass wing.

The work is noisy, and, because of the clay soil base, very dusty. Our neighbours are being very patient so thank you. The piling work is due to stop at the end of next week.

Piling - a short introduction

The photograph shows the foundation layout for our (soon-to-be) fabulous, new glass wing. The contractor has cleared the paving away and this week will begin 'piling'. A lot of the construction industry language is new to me. I had a rough idea of what piling meant but a bit of investigation has thrown up lots of interesting information.

The basics: "A pile driver or piledriver is a mechanical device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundations support for buildings or other structures." It is likely to be very noisy, especially if it hits hard rock.

Some history: Scotland can make a very good claim to have invented the process. Among the people who are said to have invented piling is James Nasmyth, son of the Edinburgh born landscape painter Alexander Nasmyth. Even better, the earliest example of piling is a 5,000 year old, iron age Crannog, and is to be found at Loch Tay.

If you want to find out more, have a browse through these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pile_driver

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Nasmyth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crannog

Protecting the existing fabric

A major refurbishment of a beautiful, grade A listed Edwardian concert hall obviously presents many challenges. One of these is how to protect the fabric of the existing building. This week the contractor and architect have been telling me that they will install protection for the marble pillars. I must admit I scratched my head when I saw this - cellophane and wood? I was expecting thick woollen blankets and sentry guards, or something.

However, a conversation with our project liaison manager and all was explained. The wood protects the pillar from knocks and holds the cellophane down. The cellophane is wrapped around to allow visible checks to reveal if the vibrations are causing any damage. Clever, eh.

Week 3

The first 2 weeks of the project have seen the completion of the construction site around the hall. I think you'll agree it's a bit of a change. Audiences seem to be coping with navigating the area better than I am. We have started putting our front of house ushers right out into the streets before each concert to ensure that we can direct as many people around the area and into the hall and other theatres/resturants. Poster sites are being erected on the hoardings today and these will display local map information. Poster sites for the theatres and restaurants are currently being made.

Parking and traffic management continues to exercise many, especially our neighbours. Access to Cambridge Street is restricted and the road around the hall is closed. Audiences are advised to allow extra time to get to the hall in case of problems. Our advice, and that of the Lyceum and Traverse Theatres is to park in the NCP on Castle Terrace and walk over. Spaces for Blue Badge holders are on Grindlay Street, accessible from Cornwall Street. Traffic Wardens, or whatever their current title is, are being asked to provide extra cover in the area and the NCP is cheaper than a fine!