Jones Weatherproofing was commissioned by engineering and construction specialists VolkerFitzpatrick to weatherproof service risers for a new-build project in Camden. The Apex is part of the prestigious Tribeca development, which aims to become a landmark destination for life sciences and innovation.
This six-storey mixed-use development is set to provide state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, as well as office areas and amenities. Designed to celebrate the relationship with the canal that runs next to the development, the building includes a cafe that sits alongside the water and a generous double-height entrance on St Pancras Way. The London Bioscience Innovation Centre (LBIC) will occupy the basement, ground and first two floors, and the upper storeys include a roof terrace.
Weatherproofing service risers
The key challenge for Jones Weatherproofing was ensuring that the building’s service risers, essential for the building’s infrastructure, were fully weatherproofed to meet the high standards necessary for the building’s occupants and the laboratory facility in particular.
“A colleague recommended Jones Weatherproofing to me based on some work they’d done previously. Given their specialisation in the weatherproofing of service risers, they were just what we needed on The Apex Tribeca project,” says Rob Donald, site manager for VolkerFitzpatrick.
“As we approached the stage of the project involving the roof, we were in talks with Jones Weatherproofing. They provided detailed specifications and drawings for the weatherproofing of the service risers, which included a mix of ventilation ducts, hot and cold-water pipes and electrical cables,” he adds.
Jones Weatherproofing worked closely with Rob and the M&E engineers to ensure that the roof penetration was structurally sound and that the service risers were weatherproofed within the specified timeframes and that the finished result met all safety and quality requirements.
Flexibility to fit programming with changing service riser specifications
Halfway into the project, specifications changed, including increased M&E provision on the roof. This meant that the risers would be required to accommodate more services than originally planned. For Jones Weatherproofing, this was an easy challenge to overcome, as our system is flexible and can accommodate last-minute changes easily.
Space constraints were another challenge that required flexibility with scheduling. Rob explains: “The roof wasn’t massive, and with all the machinery, access issues and weather – especially the rain during the winter – there was a lot going on up there. Despite these challenges, Jones Weatherproofing managed to work around everything. They coordinated well with other site activities and got the job done in stages across two visits.”
Rob says that, following the project at the Apex Tribeca, he plans to work with Jones Weatherproofing again for a project in Kingston – and likely for future projects too.
“Jones Weatherproofing is a great company to work with – very user-friendly. The senior management were helpful, and the guys on-site were great too. We had a good working relationship, and everything went according to plan,” he says.
Service risers and weatherproofing for mixed-use developments
Jones Weatherproofing’s involvement in the Apex Tribeca mixed-use development demonstrates the team’s ability to weatherproof service risers with complex and changing requirements.
Neil Boylan, contracts director at Jones Weatherproofing, explains: “Weatherproofing service risers for The Apex Tribeca required careful planning and flexibility. Our team ensured that the weatherproofing finish of the risers would meet the needs of the laboratory spaces and support the long-term functionality of the mixed-use development.”
He adds: “We’re proud to have been part of a project that will play such a significant role in the future of life sciences and innovation in London.”
No matter your bespoke weatherproofing requirements, we will support your project. From weatherproofing details to design and build, as well as bespoke solutions to after care, tell us about your next project here and we will be in touch to discuss your needs.
