ISG has successfully completed a turnkey programme to deliver a new luxury hotel – the InterContinental London Westminster, in just 39-weeks on behalf of developer Supreme Hotels.The £37 million project saw the construction consultancy work under an open book management contract to fast-track the 256 bedroom scheme and complete the hotel within the accelerated timeframe. The company’s innovative approach involved putting in place multiple suppliers and subcontractors for each element of the build, reducing the risk of any delays to the extremely tight programme and ensuring turnkey project delivery with a full fixtures, fittings and equipment (FF&E) contract.
Involved in every aspect of the procurement process, the construction consultancy worked closely with its client to source the highest quality materials and products from across the globe as part of the FF&E package. Marble was imported from Italy and Spain, with furniture sourced from Italy, China and England and lighting from Germany.
Located close to the Houses of Parliament, InterContinental London Westminster is the first InterContinental Hotel to open in London for 36 years. The building was formerly the offices of the Government’s Treasury Solicitor and has now been converted to offer 256 en-suite guest bedrooms over six floors, including 44 suites.
A substantial presidential suite on level six has been created, along with an executive style club bar and lounge area on the first floor. Meanwhile, the ground floor has been extensively remodelled to accommodate a high specification lobby, lobby lounge, a winter garden area, contemporary restaurant and a sophisticated feature pub. The refurbishment also included the installation of seven new lifts, a feature helical staircase, back of house offices and facilities, restaurant and bar kitchens and a range of conference and banqueting accommodation at basement level, along with a gym for hotel guests.
The project also saw the construction of a new porte cochère to provide covered vehicular access along with the refurbishment of the building’s façade and windows, including some architecturally listed elements, as well as the construction of a large plant deck at roof level.
Peter Kilby, managing director of ISG’s Hotels division, commented: “Completing a project of this size and scope within such a short time scale required specialist expertise, a dynamic team and close co-operation across the delivery partners. The only way to achieve delivery of such a complex and demanding scheme was via a management contract that would enable all stakeholders to work in a collaborative and efficient manner towards the delivery timescale.
“With 36 different room layouts, a completely enclosed site and a requirement to remove all external scaffolding for two months during the Olympics and Paralympic Games, this was a scheme of considerable challenges. However, precision management, just-in-time site deliveries and a team of up to 700 construction professionals working on site at any one time, ensured that we were able to deliver to exacting five-star standards within our client’s deadline.”
