The Hub, Farnborough - Hand Rails
Working in and around Listed buildings presents special challenges, since the design, materials and finish are closely prescribed to fit with the site’s essential character. Creating these handrails for a 1930s Art Deco building in Farnborough was made even more complex by the inclusion of wooden elements, made by a third party.
About the project
In 1908, just five years after the Wright brothers, Farnborough Airfield was host to the first powered flight in Britain. In the decades that followed, it was home to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and remained a national centre of military and civil aviation research until the late 1980s.
Today, the site is occupied by Farnborough Business Park (the present Airport, home to the world-famous Farnborough Air Show, is next door). But there’s a substantial reminder of its past glories, in the form of The Hub. Formerly the departure lounge and control tower, this Listed Art Deco building, dating from the 1930s, has been fully modernised to provide office space, conference rooms and other business facilities.
As part of a wider project to redevelop The Hub’s outside space, we were commissioned to design and fabricate a new set of handrails, running up each side of a sloping ramp leading to the main entrance. The task was made more complex by the fact that the new rails had to match those already in place in front of the building. Furthermore, the design had to allow for a hardwood rail, supplied by third-party specialists, to be fitted on top. This meant paying close attention to how the various elements combined, and ensuring our newly-fabricated parts connected seamlessly with the existing handrails.
We fabricated the handrails from heavy mild steel sections, which were hot-dipped galvanised after manufacture to give a precise match of colour and texture. We were delighted to be awarded this contract at such an important and iconic Listed building.
In 1908, just five years after the Wright brothers, Farnborough Airfield was host to the first powered flight in Britain. In the decades that followed, it was home to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and remained a national centre of military and civil aviation research until the late 1980s.
Today, the site is occupied by Farnborough Business Park (the present Airport, home to the world-famous Farnborough Air Show, is next door). But there’s a substantial reminder of its past glories, in the form of The Hub. Formerly the departure lounge and control tower, this Listed Art Deco building, dating from the 1930s, has been fully modernised to provide office space, conference rooms and other business facilities.
As part of a wider project to redevelop The Hub’s outside space, we were commissioned to design and fabricate a new set of handrails, running up each side of a sloping ramp leading to the main entrance. The task was made more complex by the fact that the new rails had to match those already in place in front of the building. Furthermore, the design had to allow for a hardwood rail, supplied by third-party specialists, to be fitted on top. This meant paying close attention to how the various elements combined, and ensuring our newly-fabricated parts connected seamlessly with the existing handrails.
We fabricated the handrails from heavy mild steel sections, which were hot-dipped galvanised after manufacture to give a precise match of colour and texture. We were delighted to be awarded this contract at such an important and iconic Listed building.
About the project
In 1908, just five years after the Wright brothers, Farnborough Airfield was host to the first powered flight in Britain. In the decades that followed, it was home to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and remained a national centre of military and civil aviation research until the late 1980s.
Today, the site is occupied by Farnborough Business Park (the present Airport, home to the world-famous Farnborough Air Show, is next door). But there’s a substantial reminder of its past glories, in the form of The Hub. Formerly the departure lounge and control tower, this Listed Art Deco building, dating from the 1930s, has been fully modernised to provide office space, conference rooms and other business facilities.
As part of a wider project to redevelop The Hub’s outside space, we were commissioned to design and fabricate a new set of handrails, running up each side of a sloping ramp leading to the main entrance. The task was made more complex by the fact that the new rails had to match those already in place in front of the building. Furthermore, the design had to allow for a hardwood rail, supplied by third-party specialists, to be fitted on top. This meant paying close attention to how the various elements combined, and ensuring our newly-fabricated parts connected seamlessly with the existing handrails.
We fabricated the handrails from heavy mild steel sections, which were hot-dipped galvanised after manufacture to give a precise match of colour and texture. We were delighted to be awarded this contract at such an important and iconic Listed building.
In 1908, just five years after the Wright brothers, Farnborough Airfield was host to the first powered flight in Britain. In the decades that followed, it was home to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and remained a national centre of military and civil aviation research until the late 1980s.
Today, the site is occupied by Farnborough Business Park (the present Airport, home to the world-famous Farnborough Air Show, is next door). But there’s a substantial reminder of its past glories, in the form of The Hub. Formerly the departure lounge and control tower, this Listed Art Deco building, dating from the 1930s, has been fully modernised to provide office space, conference rooms and other business facilities.
As part of a wider project to redevelop The Hub’s outside space, we were commissioned to design and fabricate a new set of handrails, running up each side of a sloping ramp leading to the main entrance. The task was made more complex by the fact that the new rails had to match those already in place in front of the building. Furthermore, the design had to allow for a hardwood rail, supplied by third-party specialists, to be fitted on top. This meant paying close attention to how the various elements combined, and ensuring our newly-fabricated parts connected seamlessly with the existing handrails.
We fabricated the handrails from heavy mild steel sections, which were hot-dipped galvanised after manufacture to give a precise match of colour and texture. We were delighted to be awarded this contract at such an important and iconic Listed building.
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