Lift Shaft and Roof Demolition Gatwick
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your unwavering dedication and hard work throughout the Gatwick NGSC project. Your commitment, professionalism, and collaborative spirit have been vital to achieving a successful outcome despite the numerous challenges and complexities we encountered along the way!
Your support has been instrumental in overcoming technical hurdles, navigating demanding requirements, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality. The resilience shown by all of you, especially in the face of shifting priorities and tight deadlines, was truly commendable and made a significant difference to the project’s success.
On behalf of the Balfour Beatty team, I extend my deepest gratitude for your continued efforts and partnership. We look forward to building on this success and working together on future projects.
Andy Parr, Project Director
Balfour Beatty
Scope of Works
Castle & Pryor were engaged as part of London Gatwick Airport’s programme to deliver the new Passenger Search Area (PSA) and Next Generation Security Checkpoint (NGSC) within the South Terminal. Working in close collaboration with Balfour Beatty, our scope comprised of the demolition of the existing shaft roof and floor, removal of the pond roof, and formation of a new structural opening to accommodate a staircase through the roof.
A critical requirement of the works was maintaining uninterrupted operations of the existing lift system, necessitating careful planning. In total, over 31 tonnes of reinforced concrete were safely removed, with all activities planned and executed to minimise disruption to the live airport environment and ongoing terminal operations.
What We Did
Precision cutting works were undertaken using a Husqvarna WS 482 track saw to form controlled perimeter cuts to the lift shaft roof and floor. The opening was then broken out using a Husqvarna DXR95 remote-controlled demolition robot, enabling safe and accurate removal of reinforced concrete. The demolition to the lift shaft roof incorporated removal of roofing, cladding, structural steelwork, and reinforced concrete.
Roof works included full removal of the existing pond roof, comprising cladding, paving slabs, roofing materials, steelwork, and reinforced concrete. Structural pockets were formed within the roof structure to accommodate the new pond roof staircase, and the existing upstand was removed using a Husqvarna CS10 wire saw to achieve clean, vibration-controlled cuts. Upon completion, the lift framework remained fully intact and operational, with the pond roof area successfully opened up and prepared for subsequent installation works.
Concrete was removed using a Twinca electric-powered high-tip loader in conjunction with a lift hoist, ensuring efficient material handling while maintaining low noise and zero on-site emissions. To further minimise disruption to Gatwick’s day-to-day operations, a number of high-impact activities were strategically programmed during night-shift working periods.
