Projects
Installing a building's critical systems against the clock, in the beating heart of London's West End
Off-site innovation and modular design unlocked a complex installation.
In the streets of Mayfair, the South Molton development is taking shape.
A landmark project for Grosvenor and Mitsui Fudosan UK. The scheme will provide a new benchmark in state-of-the-art commercial space in one of London's most prestigious locations.
An iconic project in an iconic postcode. But building in the heart of the West End brings its own challenges.
Space is at a premium, access is limited and every construction activity must be meticulously planned.
So when it came to installing the critical mechanical, electrical and public health services (MEP) that would power the buildings, the Skanska project team knew a conventional approach would not be enough.
Hidden behind walls and ceilings, building services rarely attract attention.
Yet they are among the most complex and critical elements of any development. They are the life blood of a building.
At South Molton, these services needed to be routed through risers for both buildings that make up the development. Two buildings doubles the challenge, creating a complex logistical headache – in the middle of the busiest streets in Britain.
Under a traditional installation model, multiple trades would work sequentially within the confined riser spaces over a period of several weeks. Hundreds of deliveries, hundreds of crane lifts.
Coordinating that activity in such a constrained environment would have added pressure to programme, increased site congestion and introduced additional safety risks.
The solution
Instead, the Skanska team looked beyond the site boundary.
Early in the project, a decision was taken to adopt a prefabricated solution, with our specialist supply chain team, manufacturing two multi-service MEP modules off site.
There, services from multiple partners could be assembled into bespoke steel-framed modules in a controlled production environment long before they were needed on site.
The approach fundamentally changed the way the installation was delivered.
What would traditionally have taken around nine weeks per riser was transformed into two carefully planned weekend lifting operations. Following transportation to Mayfair, the modules were craned into position within both buildings, completing a critical stage of the construction programme in a matter of hours rather than weeks.
The impact
But the real success story extends beyond programme savings.
By shifting construction activity off site, the team created an environment where quality could be inspected and controlled at every stage. Materials arrived at the factory, services were installed using a production-line methodology and snagging was addressed before the modules ever left the factory. The result was a more efficient process and a higher degree of certainty when the modules arrived in central London ready for installation.
There was a human benefit too. By assembling the modules at ground level in a controlled factory environment, operatives had safer, easier access to their work areas. It reduced the need to work within confined riser spaces on site, helping minimise risk while creating a more comfortable working environment.
This is modern methods of construction in action. By thinking outside the box, innovating and working hand-in-glove with our supply chain partners, this modular design has not only helped overcome the constraints of building in one of London's busiest districts, but has shown how early collaboration and smart design can improve safety, quality and productivity simultaneously.
Our mechanical, electrical and public health engineering solutions are delivered by Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil (SRW), providing industry-leading building services that support the safe, efficient and sustainable operation of facilities across multiple sectors.
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Graham Ashley
Divisional Director