Gibbs Building, University of Cambridge
Styles Façade Solutions® (formerly Thomann-Hanry®) was initially brought in to clean a single elevation of a historic college building, using its low-pressure, water-free Façade Gommage system. The university facade cleaning work was completed quickly and to a high standard, fitting within a tight summer break window so as not to disrupt term time.
Impressed by the results, the college expanded the project to cover the entire building, including structural repairs to the Portland stone façade and the crafting of new balusters to match the originals.
Throughout, all work was carried out using MEWPs instead of scaffolding, allowing the Grade I listed Gibbs Building to be restored efficiently and beautifully before students returned.
Solutions provided
GETTING A CLEAN EDUCATION AT CAMBRIDGE
King’s College, Cambridge has been one of the world’s most prestigious seats of learning since its inception in 1441. In the early 18th Century, plans were commissioned to offer both Fellows and Scholars spacious residential accommodation to replace the outdated, cramped medieval living spaces.
Architect James Gibbs was instructed to deliver an impressive Neoclassical- style building befitting the aspirations of the college. Gibbs had previously designed such landmark buildings as St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London and the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. Construction started in 1724, with the completion of the (now) Grade I listed, three- storey Portland stone building in 1732.
With the building situated in an exposed position, there was a significant build-up of dirt and grime had accumulated over time, impacting the aesthetic of the site. There was also a need to repair and redecorate over 100 large, wooden framed sash windows that, which with age and weather, needed significant maintenance to help extend their working life.
Styles Façade Solutions® carries out façade cleaning at the Gibbs Building, King's College, Cambridge, using the specialist Façade Gommage cleaning cabin. Workers operate the crane and monitor progress at ground level, with the stonework showing a visible boundary between newly cleaned and yet-to-be-treated areas.
HERITAGE CARE WITH NO ACADEMIC DISRUPTION
Styles Façade Solutions® was initially instructed to provide university facade cleaning for one specific elevation of this historic site. Using our low-pressure, water-free Façade Gommage cleaning process, our expert team completed a comprehensive façade clean.
The results, delivered in a short period of time, delighted the college, as the work needed to be conducted strictly within the summer break so as not to interfere with the working life of a busy, world-renowned educational institution.
With the initial works successfully completed, the college expanded the project to include cleaning the entire building. This included repair and structural remediation to the Portland stone façade, alongside the crafting and installing of new replacement balusters to match the originals.
COMPLETE FAÇADE RESTORATION WITHOUT SCAFFOLDING
By partnering with Styles Façade Solutions®, every aspect of the project - from cleaning, repair, restoration and redecoration - could be conducted without the use of scaffolding. Using Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), the project was completed without the need to cloak the building in expensive, unsightly, and time-consuming scaffolding.
The team at Styles Façade Solutions® helped to return the Grade I listed Gibbs Building back to its original, impressive appearance in an expedient manner, well before students and academic staff returned.
“By cleaning masonry without reliance on chemicals, water or detergent, Façade Gommage is a preferred choice for the preservation of historical buildings such as Gibbs, as well as being much faster, cheaper and less disruptive.”
King’s College, Cambridge
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