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Case Study

22-26 Whitehall

London
TRC Contracts were appointed by Tilbury Douglas Construction to undertake a specialist window refurbishment project at 22-26 Whitehall, home to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This prestigious £150,000 contract involved the careful restoration of original sash windows within the Grade I listed Ripley building, which forms part of the wider Whitehall Campus Design Strategy. Working in close collaboration with both Tilbury Douglas and the Government Property Agency (GPA), our team was tasked with bringing these historic windows back to their original splendour while incorporating modern draught proofing systems. The four-month project demanded exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship to ensure all works aligned with the building's listed status while meeting the GPA's Workplace Design Guide requirements for modernisation.
Services provided
TRC Contracts were appointed by Tilbury Douglas Construction to undertake a specialist window refurbishment project at 22-26 Whitehall, home to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This prestigious £150,000 contract involved the careful restoration of original sash windows within the Grade I listed Ripley building, which forms part of the wider Whitehall Campus Design Strategy. Working in close collaboration with both Tilbury Douglas and the Government Property Agency (GPA), our team was tasked with bringing these historic windows back to their original splendour while incorporating modern draught proofing systems. The four-month project demanded exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship to ensure all works aligned with the building's listed status while meeting the GPA's Workplace Design Guide requirements for modernisation.

22-26 Whitehall stands as one of London’s most historically significant government buildings, located in the heart of Westminster’s administrative district. The complex comprises two distinct buildings: the Grade I listed Ripley Building, an architectural masterpiece dating back to the 18th century, and the more contemporary Kirkland Building, which are now seamlessly connected by a modern glazed atrium. The Ripley Building, named after architect Thomas Ripley, exemplifies the grandeur of Georgian architecture and has played a crucial role in British governance for centuries. Today, this prestigious address houses the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), continuing its legacy as a centre of British diplomatic operations. The building’s historic significance and protected status make any restoration work particularly sensitive, requiring a delicate balance between preserving its architectural heritage and adapting to modern governmental requirements.

Whitehall

The project

The restoration process began with a comprehensive survey of all windows to assess their condition and determine the scope of repairs needed. Following this assessment, our skilled craftsmen undertook the meticulous task of carefully removing and labelling all window components, including screws, staff beads, sashes, parting beads, ironmongery, and sash weights, ensuring each piece could be accurately tracked and reinstated.

The sash windows were then transported to our specialist workshop for detailed restoration work. Here, our team conducted thorough assessments and performed necessary planning before routing specific grooves – two in the bottom sash and one in the top sash – to accommodate modern draught proofing systems. Where rot or damage was identified, our craftsmen employed the sophisticated Repair Care System, alongside traditional wood plugs and splicing techniques, to restore the timber. All loose and flaking paint was removed from frames prior to repairs to ensure optimal results.

The project also included the careful restoration of original ironmongery, which was thoroughly cleaned, refurbished, and polished to preserve its historic character. Where glass replacement was necessary, our team carefully removed broken panes and glazing beads, meticulously cleaned the rebates, and installed new glass using brown glazing silicone and appropriate beading. The final phase of the restoration involved refitting the restored sashes into their repaired box frames, incorporating new staff and parting beads with brush pile draught proofing for improved thermal efficiency. To ensure perfect functionality, all sash weights were carefully re-weighted, guaranteeing smooth and balanced operation of each window.

Client Tilbury Douglas Construction
Building type Government building
Listing Grade 1
Project value £150K
Project duration 4 months

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