Two Days - Several Sites

Toureen Mangan needed me to capture several sites in short order; one in Luton, the others in London. After the briefing in London I headed for the first – The Luton Aquatic Centre, a clean and carefully laid out Wates site with good security, on the northern side of Luton.

The baths I believe are to be used by some of the foreign Olympic teams for training, and the bottom of the pool can be raised and lowered according to its useage. Again I believe it is designed for multi-usage beyond that of Swing and Diving.

The second day had me driving to the west of the London Congestion Charging Zone to Battersea, Fulham and Chelsea, which meant an exhaustive search for parking and a long trek back to the site to join my camera equipment and later a harder trudge with all the kit back to the car, but that was the second of the venues; the first that day was over Battersea Bridge to Howie Street, where parking less fraught and fractionally less expensive.

Toureen Mangan had done all the concrete work here at the new Dyson Building for the Royal College of Art, and their particular feature was the main staircase, so I captured this from several angles. Another aspect of the concrete work was in the Auditorium where they were proud of the ceiling work at the back, which I managed to capture despite the area being almost pitch-black – the exposure was twenty or so seconds!

City Basements a subsidiary within the Group were responsible for my next port of call in Cheyne Walk, a very cramped location where they were hard at shoring up and using their Silent Pile Driver in a process known as ‘Top Down’ – an increasingly popular method of working, adding space to Inner London buildings, something this company are justly proud of their skills at this process; it involves supporting the original structure whilst they first shore up the perimeter with Frodingham piling, then when that is complete removing the existing soil to make the void where the new space is created. When you look at the footprint of this particular plot it is hard to imagine bringing this amount of machinery into such a tiny area to carry out the work.

As can be seen there are some nice features inside and out that are worth preserving.

Next, was to take myself off to the edge of Hurlingham Park to Broomhouse Lane where a much larger area has been shored up with piling and the concrete base has been laid, and men were putting in water-sealing and welding was being carried out. I have tried to convey just how deep this hole went by showing the men alongside to give scale.

From the high vantage point of the Site Office, there will be an excellent view when they play polo here in a few weeks!

Closing Stage of Construction

The atmosphere at the site was somewhat different, people without hard hats scurrying around organising deliveries; new unfamiliar faces of different workers, taking over from those of the main contractors, Jarvis and Toureen Mangan. There was an air of vibrancy, excitement and purpose, it did not seem like just another day, one of many; everyone seemed to know that this chapter was coming to a close and the birth of a new one was just beginning. Foresters was going to become a community of homes and shops, the shells were going to be filled, the sounds would no longer be those of construction, they would be the sounds of ordinary life, of new beginnings.

Although I found that in the retail units there was still work to be done, I realised that progress work was no longer with the main contractors, and that my visits had come to a close. I have felt very much a part of this development, I have been shown friendship and respect, and have always been greeted with cheerful banter, told which was their best side, as they struck poses when I passed by, and in return I have ensured that I took photos that always tried to show them in the best light, and it was flattering to be asked for my business card, so they could see what I had covered. Processes were explained to me; features I might be interested in covering were pointed out. It has been good to see how each trade has taken pride in the work they contributed to the whole.

It is interesting to think back to the earliest progress photos I took, during the construction of part of Imperial College, London – the shots were in black-and-white, the camera was a Sinar 5x4 monorail; everything was shot using a tripod and bulb flash, the numbers of shots was limited and far fewer than now where everything has been hand-held, bar the time lapse series taken of the dismantling of the tower crane. Everything has been in colour, yet ranged from the darkest recesses of the basement to exteriors in the brightest of sun. For the technical, I have used from ISO 5000 down to 100, and speeds from 1/4 second to 1/4000th, and everywhere between! And thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Jarvis Foresters – Grass Goes Down

I made a point of arriving early in order to catch the laying down of the turves as a continuation of the previous day, but learned that what had been done was all that was being laid this side of Easter, so I have shots of the first laying complete, so having captured that I moved to the basement which is much less crowded, but not yet clear enough to do the marking out of the parking bays, and I suspect the pavers outside will need to be completed so that vehicles can enter the underground car park to remove the remaining stored items.

Above ground the metal frames that render the basement skylights safe are mostly in place, the individual garages now have their up-and-over doors. The staircases in some instances have their glass panels, banisters and skirting, and in places metal trim is being fitted.

Wrought-iron black painted rails are being fixed in place, and now most of the exterior path lighting is in place. In some of the apartments the lifts are now having their protective plastic covering removed, more bathrooms have been tidied. Wooden balustrades have yet to painted or varnished, flat signs and numbers are now up – levels of completion vary across the site, and I have tried to reflect this. Toureen Mangan high viz jackets were very much in the majority with Jarvis and Balgard completing numbers.

It was a bright and buzzing area with evidence of the previous night’s rain glistening in bright sunlight, and it was pleasantly warm.

Jarvis Foresters – Paths and Pavers

Toureen Mangan are once again hard at it laying down the tarmac for the paths, which are due an epoxy bonded gravel top surface eventually, the topsoil is down for the grass turf which is due any day now, possibly going down upon the arrival of the forecast rain later this week.

I arrived somewhat late in the afternoon having been absorbed with other work in the morning and early afternoon. The entrance to the site was having the last of the pavers being laid at the service road end as I made my entrance. At the other end, they were also laying the last few blocks as I left the site; the area I had seen started on my last visit was now complete bar the edges. At the far end to the right one of the drains was being given a thorough check and found to be flowing well.

I managed to capture yet another kitchen being completed, and I was able to take some high-level shots from the balcony. And around the back the garden path was tarmacced, and the turves laid much earlier now looked like a lawn.

This is definitely the countdown. Somehow I need to get down to the show the final turf going down within a couple of days, and by that time the entrance to the underground car park should be clear so that it can be emptied for the various bays can be painted.

Foresters Ever Closer to Completion

Toureen Mangan people are more in evidence on the Jarvis development site again, now that soil is going down to add the finishing touches to paths and grassy areas to come. And inside the basement is lessening its grip as a storage area.

Upstairs many of the bathrooms and kitchens have been cleaned up, tiles are up on the walls and down on many of the floors, the staircases are looking far more finished and lighting is going in all the common shared areas, and outside lighting for the pathways are being completed.

My sense of humour baffled one of the men when I asked whether this was the Cameron apartment – he was fitting the number ten to the door with infinite precision! I had had to lean into many of the more finished rooms on my knees as much of the protective coverings were being removed and this led to an amusing encounter where one of the builders noticed I had removed my hard hat, since I was always insistent upon only shooting those properly attired I felt very sheepish, thanked him, and scurried back upstairs to retrieve it – I had needed it off to be able to take one of the shots, and was thus ‘improperly dressed’!

Jarvis Foresters Development Harpenden

Milky sunshine was the order of the day for this 6th May visit. The brickwork is now rising above ground floor level in many places, and scaffolding being added to take things higher.

In the basement the supports for water piping is going in.

More steelwork is due next week, but I will not be covering this as I go into hospital on the Wednesday, and will be having to take things easy for probably a fortnight, so I expect quite a change when next I visit.

Toureen Mangan’s Project Manager, Sean Mooney was on site for a meeting, and greeted me whilst the team were making their rounds of the site.

Jarvis’ Foresters Site Bathed in Warm Sunshine

Visiting the Harpenden site in warm sunshine for a change was welcome. Toureen Mangan are finishing the the drainage works, and soon will leave the site for a while and return to do finishing work such as paving during the closing stages. Most of what is happening is related to brickwork and as this rises, scaffolding is being constructed to allow the men to work at the next level.

In the far corner of the site work is now starting on the three cottages, and in the front right corner the brickwork needs to meet the level of the blockwork to allow for the next floor level to be put in place.

Toureen near end of 1st stage of Jarvis Groundworks

Toureen Mangan are nearing completion of the first stage of groundworks for Jarvis at their Foresters Development in Harpenden. They will return later to do finishing work such as the paving. Blockwork is rising all over the site, as is the brickwork.

The work at the front of the site was largely level at the time of my last visit, now the blockwork is head height. At the back and sides of the main area the brickwork is above waist height in many areas, so staging is rising so that this can continue to the next level.

The weather was cooler, and there was no sunshine, but at least the drizzle held off till I had finished shooting.

Foresters Development by Jarvis & Toureen Mangan

Once again, the sun shone, and large fair weather clouds scudded over the Jarvis Foresters Development in Harpenden with fewer Toureen Mangan ground workers than a fortnight ago.
The site is now mainly in the hands of the bricklayers as much of the blockwork at the base has been completed, but because it is spread throughout the site, it does not show a vast jump in height. The other activity I have covered is the preparation of more scaffolding to allow the bricklayers to work higher.

Another aspect is that the drainage needs that require deep digging is being done now to avoid this dirty work being done much later in the build, when more tradesmen are on site, and would then be more disruptive.

The large cluster of plastic mouldings stored in the basement are a new form of construction for installation in the large deep holes being created currently. They are constructed  to ensure the ground does not collapse from the weight of soil above. Once they go in, they will be encased in a membrane, so they can act as a sump.

The crane has been used in many different roles over the time I have been visiting this site; today it was being used to lift palettes from close to the site entrance to different areas across the site.

Jarvis and Toureen Mangan Harpenden – Bricks & Blocks

The Foresters Development must have many righteous working on site, since despite the forecast for drizzle and clouds, the sun was out quite often for my visit today.

The most obvious work to be seen on site this visit was brickwork and blockwork, the slabs appear to be complete, but iron reinforcing for staircases are still being prepared, and many of the drain services are to be seen sprouting from beneath areas of concrete, or close to concrete sumps.

It was interesting to capture artistic drips of concrete, the repetitive pattern formed from black plastic drain pipes, and the initials of the Groundworks company from items of building material hardware, spotted whilst moving around the site covering the ongoing work.

Groundworks at Foresters Coming on Apace

Despite the forecast of a cloudy morning, it was already bright even before my arrival at the Jarvis Foresters site where Toureen Mangan’s groundworks are entering their final stages.

Foundations elsewhere on the site are now being worked upon, as work on the central structure is nearing completion of the groundwork stage; the concreting of the floor of the basement area is now finished. Several staircases have their reinforced concrete completed, and brickwork and blockwork is well underway. The crane is moving iron reinforcing rods from storage areas to where it is needed, and shuttering is being removed.

I was amused to see how Acro jacks and panels were being moved from the first floor to the ground. Around the site skips are filling, and soil spoil is being put onto lorries for removal from the site. A heavy duty angle-grinder was carving its way through concrete like butter showering both water and sparks. There was a lot of varied activity to be captured.

Bricklaying Begun at Jarvis’ ‘Foresters’ Development

Since my last site visit, Toureen Mangan has received another award – Sunday Times – Best 100 Companies to Work For. Not only that, but they have moved from 40th position 25th in the rankings; so congratulations are in order!

Also since my last visit bricklaying has begun, and the last level of concrete slab is under way. The entrance to the basement car park is now being cleared. The pictures in the gallery tell the story.

Catching Up with Developments at Foresters

The start of the day was forecast as being misty, with a slight chance of brightening in the afternoon, but it was a week since I had visited the Jarvis and Toureen Mangan development just off High Street Harpenden, so after a check with a colleague living at the far side of the town, I gathered my kit and set forth.

After only a short while, the sun shyly appeared with a milky appearance, so maybe all those working here were righteous! So that was indeed a pleasant surprise, and it soon mean that many of the tradesmen out in the sun began shedding outer garments and the guard rails became coat hangers!

The structures were taking shape, and areas previously used for storage were now being excavated, and the spoil being removed by the lorry load. Also with the basement floor nearing completion, this meant that this could now become a secure area from the worst of the weather.

I have tried to convey several of the different activities taking place, so the chronology is not strictly correct, but to gain a complete idea of what was taking place it meant choosing different viewpoints. One person cannot be in more than one place at a time, so if a task was being repeated, I would return later to capture the missing angles, so a more complete story emerges. The other aspect was this meant the lighting was vastly different, and in photographic terms this meant shooting at 200 ISO outside to 4000 ISO in the basement area, and shutter speeds outside might vary for trying to show movement using slower speeds at one moment and stopping motion at others. This was challenging, and I have to own up, I did make mistakes as a result!

As I left the site, I then found that not only had the sun come out, but so had the crocuses. Spring may soon arrive!

Foresters Harpenden, 8th February Visit

The morning began as promised by the forecasters – brilliant sunshine from the start. I gathered my camera gear together and set off for Harpenden. The shuttering I witnessed on the last visit was now a slab of reinforced concrete. Some of the foundations of earlier buildings were being excavated and piles cut back, and one digger was shifting the spoil around.

I watched the preparation of some of the ironwork, the removal of shuttering panels from completed columns, and took several shots in the basement area as this is really taking shape with staircase shuttering being prepared, and the last few areas were now being prepared with a black plastic membrane for the remaining areas of concrete.

With each new visit I see different facets of the construction, it is really interesting work; if the site was a book, it would be described as episodic. Jarvis and the groundworks teams of Toureen Mangan have been doing a good job and I have found everyone helpful and friendly.

Toureen Mangan, Harpenden 31st January Visit

After a frosty night, Harpenden was blessed with sunshine, and when I arrived on site after just a week, it was up another level, and work was being carried out in all four corners. Aluminium staircases replaced ladders in several areas.

Shortly another level of concrete will be poured, the shuttering was under construction and the reinforcing would soon be down. By the entrance a JCB was filling a truck with spoil, and in the basement area, much of the ground area was now covered in concrete. The far end of the site was a vast open storage area.

City Basements – a Toureen Mangan Company – The Bishops Avenue Project

Recently City Basements have been invited to a prestige construction project in the blue-chip residential area of the Bishops Avenue in the Borough of Barnet, North London. True to City Basement’s ethos of being able to out groundwork efficiently in restricted spaces, all the work takes place in the former back garden of number 34, a stylish green-tiled house vacated during construction. It must have one of the most elegant Site Offices anywhere, as can be seen by the heading’s photo – it is on the first floor of this charming Summer house!

But Martin Ferriter, the Site Manager, has little time to consider the elegance of his office, he has the far more pressing task; the logistics of keeping the work on time and on budget.

I was fortunate enough to be allowed to visit the site briefly on a dull afternoon a week ago to take this handful of shots from the perimeter of the site.
www.toureenmangan.co.uk www.citybasements.co.uk

Harpenden Sunshine Site Visit

There has been a longer time between the last visit and better weather has meant noticeable changes with far more of the raw materials cluttering the small site. It has lots of small working areas than was the case when creating the large slab – this detail work is most apparent in what will be the basement car park where the workers are under cover and the lighting levels caused me to shoot at ISO 4000 where above ground, out in the open where when the sun was shining I was as low as ISO 100. However, with modern cameras and the latest software I was still able to take handheld shots that are not seriously degraded by noise.

Talking of modern technology, the laser leveller was in frequent use to ensure that the concrete-laying was to fine tolerances for good final drainage.

Something I also noted was how at the start of the day the men had thick outer high-visibility jackets, but with the sunshine and hard work the men were breaking sweat and soon abandoning these heavy garments to reveal their smaller and lighter tabards, and these notable splashes of bright green were adding further protection from sharp reinforcing iron or tops of scaffold poles, as these made useful coat hangers! Ironically shedding them here rather than going down to put them inside a Portakabin probably also kept up workflow productivity!
I did try to ensure they did not feature too strongly in my images though. Another aspect that I also bore in mind was to try to avoid too many examples where the Toureen Mangan logo or names were upside down.

After the Frosts, Concrete Pouring in Harpenden

Thursday was scheduled for the pouring of the concrete for the ground floor at the Jarvis Development in Harpenden, after the hiatus caused by recent unseasonably cold and frosty weather. I made myself known to James Blackie the site Manager and the Project Manager for the sub-contractor.
I arrived too late to catch the first mixer arriving, but not so late as to miss the pouring. There were many more trades on the site this time, and Sean Mooney, the Project Manager for Toureen Mangan (currently the main subcontractor on site) took me to see the extra step he was taking to ensure they could pour with impunity, he had sealed the area beneath with frost blankets and installed Calor gas Space heaters!

It was interesting to see a trident-style mini flame thrower being used to clear some of the snow that had accumulated in some parts of the shuttering, as well as some workmen using magnets to collect stray steel wiring from the same recesses.

The crane was also active transporting beams from their storage area to the next section to be shuttered, and all around were small groups intent on sawing timber, creating new shuttering and vibrating or smoothing out the concrete.

When possible Concrete Mixer lorries were exiting the site as the next was arriving to take its place, but there did seem to be some occasions when traffic delayed their arrival, which was a shame with such a tight schedule due to the cold spell returning soon.

Sunny Views of Tower Crane, Harpenden

After the first snow of this winter season just the day before, the sun shone out of a crisp blue sky, so despite the cold breeze I set off for Harpenden Common to capture shots of the tower crane hard at work at the far end of the town, glistening bright white against the rich blue, in the foreground gulls and crows would occasionally swoop into view.

The challenge was to have a foreground that showed the viewpoint, but did not dominate the scene. I needed a high enough shutter speed to ensure the crane and birds were reasonably sharp, but the depth of field was narrow enough that the cars were none too sharp, so you were drawn to the crane in the background, at work in the Jarvis and Toureen Mangan development at the north end of the high street.

Having captured the shots from the common, I then took a few more from the far side of the high street at the entrance to the site to accentuate the rich blue sky beyond, and the stark white of the buildings to the front.

Harpenden Site Visit - Shuttering for Ground Floor

On the vague suggestion the sun might come out, I took a chance to visit the Jarvis Development, as the Project Manager had said they were preparing the shuttering for the later pouring of concrete for the first floor.

Sean Mooney was on a break when I arrived, but I met up with him in Esporitos, and he very kindly bought me a cup of tea and we discussed the stage he had reached. He was far less optimistic over sunshine and he was proved right, but I went ahead to capture this stage as this would soon be passed, and once the concrete was in place what is below would be lost.

I covered the whole site on this visit, from every conceivable angle, I think on future visits I will need to go part way up the tower to capture meaningful angles.