Blackpool Tower, Blackpool, UK
Protecting an icon of British seaside culture
Arup has inspected every part of this landmark building, a much-loved symbol of seaside holidays, and designed and overseen various sensitive repair works for an ongoing programme of conservation and maintenance.
The Grade I listed structure is located in an aggressive marine environment and is subject to the effects of steel and iron corrosion. The height and complexity of the building also makes it extremely challenging to survey, with many elements and details not accessible from existing access platforms, ladders and stairs.
Our response involved surveyors from our heritage team, metallurgists from our materials team, and structural engineers experienced in specialist rope access. We developed a bespoke 3d app for use by staff abseiling on site to tag and annotate elements in real time. The app was pre-loaded with the known range of metal profiles and defect types to allow surveyors to select from simple graphical menus.
Our heritage specialists have overseen the design and specification of repair work, consulted with various stakeholders and secured listed building consent for a range of structural interventions.
