Building services specialist, LJJ mechanical and electrical contractors, has completed a £5m installation project involving all electrical services for Firmdale’s flagship five star Ham Yard Hotel taking ‘townhouse boutique chic’ to a new level.
Designed by international architects Woods Bagot and occupying the site of a demolished former warehouse, the 150,000ft² Ham Yard Hotel is Firmdale’s second new build property in the UK and its 8th hotel in London. The rapidly expanding boutique hotel brand also has a New York hotel, with another currently under development in the Big Apple, and the Ham Yard scheme is LJJ’s second project for the company, following the refurbishment of the company’s Dorset Square Hotel.
Located close to Mayfair and Piccadilly Circus, the new hotel is a haunt for A-list celebrities and comprises 91 guest rooms and suites, 24 luxury apartments, 13 retail units, a restaurant, three bars, a gym, a 176-seat theatre/cinema and roof garden. An original 1950’s bowling alley has been specially imported from Texas and refurbished to create an authentic, retro bowling experience.
The electrical installation involved mains distribution, small power and structured cabling in a scheme that required LJJ to begin delivering the programme in one section of the building while another section was still being constructed.
Amongst the most complex elements of the project were the fire alarm system which was fully programmed to provide wide-ranging cause and effect scenarios to maximise safety and comply with stringent Westminster fire regulations and the CCTV system which was designed, installed and commissioned by LJJ.
The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated hotel was specified with extensive lighting control systems. LJJ installed and programmed the lighting with Phillips lighting control system in the front of house and external areas for feature lighting and pre-set scenes. The company also installed the lighting in the guest rooms, each of which have their own individual lighting control system. In the apartments, LJJ installed a home automation system, including control of lighting, audio visual systems, blinds, heating and cooling and the company also installed lighting systems in the back of house areas with PIR controls for energy efficiency.
In the bowling alley, LJJ fitted the power supplies and control wiring for the refurbished bowling lanes and the house lighting and power supplies in the hotel’s theatre.
The hotel includes a wide-ranging energy efficiency specification. LJJ installed the control wiring for the building’s CHP plant and the solar PV installation.
Ron Cheles, project development director of Firmdale commented, “This is a showpiece hotel in London’s competitive hotel market and every element of the specification has been designed to maximise comfort, style and convenience while delivering our sustainability goals. We took a pragmatic approach to achieving the best possible result, which led to an evolving brief throughout the installation process. LJJ’s building services expertise as both an experienced design and installation company ensured that we were able to work collaboratively to adapt to any changes and complete the project on time.”
