Preserving comedy heritage – the McGee Group’s Leicester Square Hotel project
McGee is a specialist sub-contractor and main contractor which provides a broad spectrum of services including construction, demolition, decontamination, civil engineering and telecommunication services. Its focus on quality, expertise and innovation ensures that McGee has become a byword for excellence in the industry.
This was clearly demonstrated during McGee’s demolition of a hotel and cinema in Leicester Square when the team helped rescue the sign for the old pub – The Hand and Racquet – to donate to the Museum of Comedy, in tribute to comedian Tony Hancock, one of its famous regulars from the past.
The unusual request was made by avid Hancock fan, Clive Montellier, who approached site manager Liam Hennessy when the building was about to be demolished, eager to preserve the pub’s famous history.
To read Clive’s own account of how McGee helped him to preserve the legacy of the pub which was once frequented by the likes of comedy legends such as Tony Hancock, Sid James and Tommy Cooper, click here.
Donating the sign to the museum was just one example of the McGee team’s dedication to the most considerate of construction, achieving excellent scores in community, appearance and safety.
Working on behalf of Edwardian Hotels London – the leading luxury hotel and hospitality brand – McGee started work at the heart of London’s prime cinema hotspot in January 2015. Handover to the follow-on trades is expected to take place in late 2017, on completion of the superstructure.
The project involved the demolition of the existing ‘island site’ (now complete), which included the famous Odeon cinema. The works also included the excavation of a 30-metre deep basement (equivalent to six storeys underground), and the construction of new basement levels and a new nine-storey superstructure.
Describing the exciting project, McGee’s Head of Social Responsibility Marc Byrne said:
“The final result of this massive project will bring a new 350-bedroom hotel and cinema complex to Leicester Square. The new Leicester Square hotel will come complete with bars and restaurants above ground. Below, there will be two Odeon cinemas, a banqueting suite and leisure facilities.”
As with any major development and demolition within the centre of London, the site team faced a number of challenges associated with noise, vibration, dust and disruption to residential and commercial neighbours. The fact that the Leicester Square Hotel is in one of London’s busiest areas, and close to tourist attractions such as the National Gallery, makes these issues of paramount importance.
To overcome these challenges McGee has, in conjunction with the client, adopted a proactive approach to communication with not only the local authority – Westminster City Council – but local residential groups and businesses.
Here are some examples of best practice initiatives carried out by McGee:
- The site presents an attractive appearance, with the site hoarding smartly painted in black and in very good condition.
- Site team volunteers carry out litter picking duties within Leicester Square.
- The scaffolding is fully enclosed and the pedestrian entrance is on a busy pedestrian route through the Square, being attractively decorated with hanging baskets and flowerpots, drawing admiring comments from the tourists.
- A dress code is in place and operatives remove PPE before leaving site, with this behaviour strongly enforced by the management team.
- Corporate identity is well displayed, both inside and outside the site. Company values and expectations are clearly communicated and site rules displayed.
- Monthly newsletters were regularly distributed either via email or in hard copy. If any additional information needed to be disseminated regarding any necessary out-of-hours works, update sheets were issued to neighbours. A database of interested parties was built up over the duration of the project for this purpose.
- State of the art real-time monitoring equipment was in operation to ensure noise, vibration and dust levels remained within specified levels, and results made available to interested parties.
- Presentations and meetings explaining the project progress and its phases have been regularly held, with invites issued to all. Good relationships have been established with neighbourhood committees and The Heart of London (the local commerce representative group).
- The site attended a monthly meeting of businesses in the local area.
- McGee has a full time community liaison officer dedicated to the project who developed a good working relationship with the local community and was always available with the site team to deal with any community issues that might arise. An example of this would be a change of working hours on a particular day to accommodate a seminar being held at the local library and putting up advertising for a local restaurant to advertise ‘business as usual’.
- The site actively uses Twitter as a means of communication.
- Noisy works were advised to residents in advance and hours were modified if required. The site works on a two on/two off system for any noisy activities and activities on site were modified or suspended to accommodate events in the Square, such as film premieres and so on. Work methods have been considered to minimise the impact on neighbours.
- The site had undertaken an ‘exchanging places’ event and a H&S presentation at a local primary school
- McGee supported various local and national charities through several site activities, supplied equipment and resources, and salvaged signs and windows for museums.
- Raising awareness of prostate cancer – the site team worked with charity, Prostate Cancer UK, to raise awareness of the disease and much-needed funds. A Prostate Cancer UK volunteer and a survivor of prostate cancer delivered an informative talk to the site team during a morning break-time session, inviting questions at the end.
- Supporting ‘Wear it Pink’ – The project team fronted the Wear it Pink campaign for the construction industry, featuring on the charity’s website and in fundraising packs.
- Brooking National Collection – Several windows were salvaged for the Brooking National Collection of Architectural Detail – the only major national resource of its kind in the UK.
- Museum of Comedy – as previously mentioned, the original pub Hand and Racquet sign is now on display in the Museum of Comedy, Bloomsbury Way, London.
- Greening the City – in 2015, the Leicester Square project team introduced plans to its site office entrance to add a homely touch. Potted plants stood in chimney pots that had been recycled from the site and hanging baskets hung from the hoarding. The display caught the attention of passers-by, with one fan taking to Twitter to show their appreciation: “Like the homely touch to @McGee_Group construction site in Leicester Square #greeningthecity.
- A clean and tidy site perimeter was achieved and thanks to a number of project team volunteers at Leicester Square, McGee took part in ‘The BIG Tidy Up’ initiative. Using a Keep Britain Tidy litter kit, volunteers helped to give the green area opposite the site a spring clean to help maintain a clean and tidy area for all to enjoy.
- Some elements of the soft strip have been reused by neighbours.
- Noise, vibration and dust were all monitored with alerts in real time. Visual displays were also in place for operatives.
- The Traffic Marshals were trained to maintain the FSC chain of custody.
- The site monitored its carbon footprint and scheduled tree planting to offset carbon used.
- A system of electronic tags was installed to all McGee vehicles; instead of drivers carrying out the daily vehicle safety checks by sitting in the cab, a tag on each elevation of the vehicle has to be scanned during the inspection, forcing drivers to physically move around the vehicle, making accurate checks. The company believes this will raise safety standards and ensure any defects are resolved quickly.
- The company’s H&S advisor visited twice a week and provided a formal report which was closed out appropriately.
- Operatives were encouraged to complete hazard observation cards and a charitable donation was made for each one.
- A confidential H&S reporting line was in place for operatives to report concerns.
- Operatives who performed at high level were recognised and appropriately rewarded.
- The company’s behavioural safety scheme was rolled out and there was good signage around the site.
- There was a defibrillator on site and signage to advise the public of this.
- The site had a zero tolerance Drugs and Alcohol policy, with random testing in place.
- Although there were red and yellow cards for sanctions, there was also a focus on positive reinforcement to encourage improved safety behaviour.
- Monthly safety awards were recognised in the company newsletter.
- The company introduced a system of vehicle checks which ensured drivers carried out physical checks of their vehicle each day.
- Vehicles attending site were required to hold FORS gold accreditation and there was a good awareness and understanding of the CLOCS initiative.
- The company also engaged with design and engineering students at Nottingham Trent University to develop further cycle safety systems for the company’s vehicle fleet.
- The site took part in National Breakfast Week. Free fruit was provided for everyone on site.
- An Occupational Health nurse was located in the company’s head office.
- An external speaker visited the site to discuss prostate cancer with the workforce.
- The site negotiated discount cards for operatives using local services.
- There was engagement with a local foundation for young people and careers information was provided.
- The company has a well developed graduate training scheme and there are trainees on-site.
- The company’s vacancy list was displayed on-site and operatives were encouraged to recruit family and friends.
- A cultural room was provided.
- The site arranged for showers to be used at the local gym.
