We were appointed to provide heritage scaffold design for a major refurbishment project at the London Coliseum—one of the capital’s most iconic historic theatres. The works required a combination of structural access solutions, balancing public safety with full access to the upper elevations of the building.
The scaffold design included a heavy-duty pavement gantry to support site operations at street level. Positioned on a busy central London thoroughfare, the gantry was designed to bridge over open access points and avoid any risk of material falls to the pavement below. This bridging requirement introduced a complex load path, with careful consideration given to both pedestrian clearances and the structural capacity of the gantry framework.
Above, we designed a full-height access scaffold wrapping around the curved terrace and dome of the Coliseum. The geometry of the building—especially around the dome—required a carefully coordinated layout, ensuring safe access for a range of repair and refurbishment activities across different trades. The scaffold tied into the building where possible, with restrictions managed through a combination of buttressing and bridged bays, all aligned with best practices in scaffold design for heritage projects.
Our team worked closely with the scaffold contractor and site team to ensure the design met both structural and practical requirements, while also respecting the sensitive nature of the historic façade and adhering to heritage scaffold design principles. This project is a strong example of scaffold design in London where heritage, safety, and heavy-duty access requirements intersect. Projects like these highlight the importance of thoughtful design in heritage scaffold works.