Project Description: Designed access scaffolding with HAKI temporary roof.

Tamworth Scaffolding Co Ltd were awarded the scaffolding contract for the £4.8 million refurbishment of the oldest part of the RSC ' The Swan Wing '  which is  grade 2 listed for main contractor The Shaylor Group.

Part of the initial brief was the need for the remaining RSC to remain fully functioning and open to the public whilst restoration works were taking place and the need for quiet time working whilst rehearsing and live performances were taking place.

The scaffold consisted of a fully designed independent scaffold and HAKI temporary roof to form a weather proof enclosure whilst the existing roof coverings were taken off and replaced, the project had several challenges which had to be overcome, one being due to a large colonnade roof which had minimal load bearing strength, the answer was to have a number of steel beams specially manufactured which were then bolted to an existing steel frame structure on one side and slotted into pockets which had to be cut out of the brickwork on the other side, from here the scaffold could be erected off the steel structure in order to bridge the colonnade roof. Another issue was storage of materials due to limited space, so a 12m x 12m loading bay was constructed over the existing bin storage areas utilising 750mm deep aluminium beams with a 5.0 kN/m2 loading from which we were able to accommodate a 500 kg goods hoist and also a HAKI staircase. 

Internally we had to provide the client with a large birdcage scaffolding which had to be erected off RMD soldiers spanning across the basements load bearing walls to form working platforms to access the walls and also protection decks to the existing glass lanterns for the safe removal of the glass.

Externally a HAKI public access staircase with an enclosed roof to conform with fire protection regulations was erected to be used as a temporary fire escape for the public whilst the works are carried out.

The RSC commissioned a scaffold wrap measuring 28m x 16m which was fixed to the front elevation of the scaffold depicting an image of the existing building, the works were all completed in early spring 2016 in time for William Shakespeare's 400th centenary.