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Case study 01LondonCurtain walling

90 Long Acre

The Acre, Covent Garden: atrium curtain walling, GRC cladding & fire-rated doors

Client
Lendlease
Address
90 Long Acre (The Acre), Covent Garden, London
Our role
Specialist installation contractor
Disciplines
Curtain walling, GRC cladding, Fire-rated doors
Package value
c. £2m
Programme
Approximately two years
Team
12 OMFC operatives
Completed
2025

The outcome

A c. £2m package delivered over two years, from the first steelwork to handover, with our crane and MEWP operators also keeping other trades moving.

Computer-generated view of the new atrium at 90 Long Acre.
Computer-generated view of the new atrium at 90 Long Acre.

Overview

The Acre is Lendlease’s £120m retrofit of Richard Seifert’s landmark building on Long Acre, designed by Gensler for Northwood Investors. Over a programme of around two years, OMFC was involved throughout the project, from the first steelwork to final handover, and our team brought real commitment to every stage of the works.

A twelve-strong OMFC team completed the atrium curtain walling, from the structural steel grid through to the final glazing and seals, along with the GRC cladding package. We also installed every fire-rated door set in the building, including the lift-core fire doors on every floor.

Working closely with the other trade contractors on site, our team was regularly called on to support their works with our spider crane and MEWP operators, helping to keep the wider programme moving.

Our supply partner provided Schüco systems of the highest quality, with fully certified fire-rated performance. They also supported the project with technical consultancy, and provided Fire PRO training and qualification courses for our installation team.

Scope of works

  1. Atrium curtain walling, from steel grid to final seal
  2. Fire PRO fire-rated curtain wall glazing
  3. GRC cladding
  4. All fire-rated door sets throughout the building
  5. Lift-core fire doors to all 10 floors
  6. Spider crane and MEWP support to other trade contractors
  7. Team of 12 OMFC operatives
  8. Package value c. £2m, delivered over approximately two years
  9. Schüco systems with certified fire-rated performance
  10. Fire PRO training and qualification for OMFC installers

Installation process

The sequence below documents the works as they progressed on site, from the structural steel grid for the atrium curtain walling, through vacuum-lifted glazing and GRC panel installation, to the completed atrium. OMFC’s site team carried out every stage shown here, using qualified operatives and our own lifting and access equipment throughout.

Structural steelwork for the curtain wall grid, erected floor by floor ahead of glazing.
02Structural steelwork for the curtain wall grid, erected floor by floor ahead of glazing.
Curtain wall support steelwork at a corner junction, tied back into the concrete frame.
03Curtain wall support steelwork at a corner junction, tied back into the concrete frame.
The OMFC International site team at the steelwork stage, with access plant positioned for the next lift.
04The OMFC International site team at the steelwork stage, with access plant positioned for the next lift.
A glazing unit secured to the vacuum lifter at ground level, ready to be lifted into the facade.
05A glazing unit secured to the vacuum lifter at ground level, ready to be lifted into the facade.
Positioning a steel member into the curtain wall grid using a spider crane and mobile access platform.
06Positioning a steel member into the curtain wall grid using a spider crane and mobile access platform.
A glazing unit being lifted into the facade frame using a vacuum lifter, guided by two installers.
07A glazing unit being lifted into the facade frame using a vacuum lifter, guided by two installers.
A two-storey glazed corner in the atrium, framed and glazed, with a MEWP at its head.
08A two-storey glazed corner in the atrium, framed and glazed, with a MEWP at its head.
Installation in progress: a GRC cladding panel being positioned by a qualified OMFC International installer.
09Installation in progress: a GRC cladding panel being positioned by a qualified OMFC International installer.
A black-framed glazed box at first-floor level, framed and glazed, with a MEWP alongside.
10A black-framed glazed box at first-floor level, framed and glazed, with a MEWP alongside.
A full-height black-framed glazed screen, glazed and sealed.
11A full-height black-framed glazed screen, glazed and sealed.
A glazed screen near completion, with the street visible through the new glazing.
12A glazed screen near completion, with the street visible through the new glazing.
Full-height atrium facade during the later stages of installation, showing the scale of the curtain walling and cladding scope.
13Full-height atrium facade during the later stages of installation, showing the scale of the curtain walling and cladding scope.

Completed result

The completed atrium: full-height curtain walling under the new glass roof, with the glazed screens and door sets at ground floor.

The internal atrium facade and roof glazing, illuminated at dusk.
14The internal atrium facade and roof glazing, illuminated at dusk.
Completed glazed door set to the amenity area, with feature ceiling art installation above.
15Completed glazed door set to the amenity area, with feature ceiling art installation above.
The multi-storey glazed atrium facade, viewed from the atrium floor.
16The multi-storey glazed atrium facade, viewed from the atrium floor.
Completed glazed double doors along the ground-floor corridor.
17Completed glazed double doors along the ground-floor corridor.
Detail of a completed glazed door set.
18Detail of a completed glazed door set.
Completed glazed entrance vestibule in daylight.
19Completed glazed entrance vestibule in daylight.
Completed ground-floor amenity space.
20Completed ground-floor amenity space.

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