Project Overview
The painstaking restoration and recreation of one of London’s most glamorous and legendary hotels is currently being undertaken by Ardmore.
The former Metropole Hotel, in Northumberland Avenue, will be reborn as the new five-star Corinthia Hotel, and is the latest of several landmark London hotels, including the Four Seasons, the Verta and The Savoy, to undergo major refurbishment.
Already eagerly anticipated, the Corinthia Hotel is ideally situated in the heart of London, close to the capital’s leading theatres, museums and other cultural attractions. Only a few minutes’ walk from the River Thames, Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, it is set to become one of London’s most exclusive luxury hotels when it opens its doors from April 2011.
Originally the magnificent Metropole Hotel that opened in 1886, the building was converted into offices in the 1950s and is now being stylishly brought back to life by Ardmore. Special features such as the ornate Northumberland Avenue entrance, the Grand Ballroom and the Court Room are being revived to their original majestic status, while at the same time incorporating the latest cutting-edge contemporary features.
Corinthia Hotel London will offer subtle grandeur, superior style and comfort. From its elegant central courtyard foyer, to its two stylish restaurants and destination bar, luxury spa, gym, pool and leisure facilities, six meeting rooms and the delicately refurbished Grand Ballroom, guests will be enticed by this ‘lavish retreat into timeless beauty’.
Ardmore is creating over 300 superbly designed and extravagantly spacious bedrooms as well as a number of suites, offering outstanding views across London. With great attention to detail, bedrooms will be discreetly equipped with the latest in-room technology and have a distinct touch of glamour and elegance, complete with furnishings of supreme quality.
A luxury kitchen in the former ballroom of the building will accommodate the Michelin-starred Italian chef Massimo Riccioli, celebrated owner of La Rosetta in Rome. The superb new kitchen facilities are currently being used for marketing events during the construction process.
Procurement
Following a period of extensive value engineering, Ardmore was been appointed as contractor through a traditional two-stage tender process.
Construction Methodology
The refurbishment and restoration of this distinguished landmark property includes the careful removal of around 15 chimneybreasts and the installation of large structural steelwork box-frames to alter the size and shape of the floor levels within its imposing Victorian exterior. A reduced-level dig to a depth of 2.5 metres has been carried out to accommodate the luxury spa in the basement of the building. Concrete works in the new courtyard have been undertaken to create a new reinforced concrete link structure throughout the existing light well.
Value Engineering
Ardmore’s in-house team of specialists has been commissioned to produce all joinery works for this high-grade project, with manufacturing being undertaken off-site at the company’s own craft workshops in north London. This is a prime example of Ardmore’s exceptional and wide-ranging ability to ensure the highest production quality while closely controlling costs – a major benefit to its clients.
Value Enhancement
Ardmore is providing a full Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment (FF & E) package for the Corinthia Hotel project, ensuring that products are procured through the company’s own secure supply chain – another significant cost-saving for the client.
Sustainability
The project only uses materials that have been regulated and approved by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), while ‘just in time’ delivery processes are being applied throughout the building process to ensure the carbon footprint of the scheme is reduced as much as possible. It is aiming to achieve a BREEAM rating of Very Good.
