Greening up the face of construction

ROCK, a long standing client for co2balance, talk about their commitment to put the environment at the heart of their business.

Rock, the UK market leader for over 40 years in mastic asphalt and building waterproof technologies is continuing to redefine its relationship with the market.

Rock have expanded their supply and contractual services from traditional roofing products to the provision of high tech “Green Roofs” and even “Green Wall” systems. Rock was in fact responsible for the construction of the largest Green Roof in the capital at Canon Street. The green roof system is so advanced it has allowed architects, specifiers and other clients to realise concepts which up to now have simply not been achievable. However Green Products are just a part of the Environmental story for Rock.


A strategic approach to environmental efficiency

Green Roofing systems are just part of what Rock does as the specialist waterproofing suppliers for the construction industry. However this is not as simple as a new product category or brand extension, it reflects an acceleration of Rock’s intention to become the supplier of choice with regard to environmental efficiency. Rock has recently introduced a Zero Waste program, the key element of which is product manufacture off site, making only the quantities needed for each job. Combined with efforts to return surplus stock to store for reuse and applying pressure on their supply chain to improve performance, Rock expects to meet its market leading Zero Waste target by 2015. The recent introduction of a new regionally based management and quality assurance structure, has significantly reduced business mileage within the group, lowered operating costs and improved standards by localising expertise where it’s needed, closest to the customer.

To further support their extensive environmental program Rock have teamed up with UK carbon experts co2balance, to measure and offset their remaining carbon footprint of their UK operations, including all power and utilities for both office and production sites. The offset program effectively delivers CarbonZero products and services to Rock’s customers. The carbon offset is achieved by investing in verified emission reduction programmes that deliver clean technology in the developing world.

Michael Sharkey business development director for Rock comments “At Rock we are pushing improvements across the group to deliver what our customers are demanding. Innovation in construction expertise and experience, together with the latest most environmentally efficient designs and systems in our part of the construction process.” The approach Rock has taken reflects best practice that co2balance promote to all of their customers; Carbon offsetting as a strategic part in companywide environmental initiatives.

About co2balance UK Ltd
Established in 2003, co2balance UK Ltd is a leading UK based, carbon management provider offering carbon calculation, management and reduction services to leading blue chip companies including, BSkyS, Toshiba Europe, Gaz De France, Fiat and Flybe, As a project developer, co2balance UK Ltd creates African Gold Standard and CDM projects that focus on social, health and community benefits to the families within the project area, in addition to carbon savings.

To find out more about about CarbonZero projects please contact CarbonZero at co2balance UK Ltd. 1 Discovery House, Cook Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6BL. Telephone: 01823 332233. Website: www.co2balance.com

Evelyn Grace Academy / RIBA Stirling Prize

In 2010 Rock was appointed by Mace Plus to work on a new education sector project, the Evelyn Grace Academy. Designed by one of the world’s most exciting and celebrated architects, Zaha Hadid, this secondary school is a legacy of the ambitious Building Schools for the Future (BSF) investment programme launched in 2004.

So we were delighted when the Evelyn Grace Academy was announced as the recipient of the 2011 RIBA Stirling Prize for the greatest contribution to British architecture of the past year. For Rock, it is very gratifying to once again be associated with a project that has earned the highest level of professional recognition.

Mace Plus contracted Rock to ensure that the building’s roof was waterproofed with our proven hot melt system, finished with quality architectural ballast and paving slabs. It is, however, very common for a main contractor to call upon Rock’s expertise in areas other than waterproofing. In this instance, Mace Plus made us responsible for the finishes on the low level concourse areas, which required a distinctive white granite imported from Ireland. Our team had to demonstrate a high degree of skill and care in installing the granite, as it played an important role in echoing other elements of Zaha Hadid’s overall design.

Likewise, we were contracted to install a design on the roof of the sports hall which reflected the entire building’s highly stylised zigzag appearance. Our rooftop zigzag was achieved by employing two colours of stone, applied with painstaking craftsmanship to ensure that this bold feature was perfectly delineated with a clean, crisp edge to it.

We congratulate Zaha Hadid Architects on winning the RIBA Stirling Prize. We also thank Mace Plus for choosing Rock as their partner on this highly imaginative and innovative project which offers exception opportunities to children in the Brixton area.

Safety becomes second nature with Rock’s new programme

All organisations in the construction industry are keen to declare their commitment to SHEQ – safety, health, environment and quality. Not surprisingly, as these issue are business critical to the growth and prosperity of any company.

Rock, however, are particularly active in nurturing a fresh mindset with regard to safety. It involves a programme where fundamental engagement and attitudinal change principles link directly to issues surrounding SHEQ.

Last year, we brought news of our involvement with Dramanon, a leading provider of drama-based training with a focus on health and safety. Since then, our people have been enrolled in a programme run by Costain which aims to deliver a step-change in safety culture.

Inspired by the way our business partners Costain and Mace have tackled SHEQ, Rock has made plans to roll out its own internal programme. A number of our people are currently undergoing training so that they, in turn, may offer instruction and conduct workshops to provide a foundation for continually improving health and safety management through behavioural change.

Specialist traditional finishes for heritage-sensitive sites

Rock’s core products remain waterproofing and renewable energy systems. Yet main contractors and specifiers are clearly aware that there are many more strings to our bow. Traditional roof finishes continue to be an essential part of our business. As a result, we find ourselves appointed to work on the restoration of a growing number of historical and landmark projects.

These include Café Royal near Piccadilly Circus, the prestigious Fenwick department store in Bond Street and the refurbishment of 49 Park Lane in Mayfair. In addition, we have worked with Laing O’Rourke on the new City of Westminster Courts, a flagship development in a highly sensitive location within the Portman Estate Conservation Area, and with Mace on 5 Hanover Square, surrounded by the neighbouring listed buildings of the Mayfair Conservation Area.

Traditional roof materials employed on these projects include slate, tile, lead, copper, stainless steel and zinc. The painstaking installation methods of our skilled craftsmen ensure that the quality of work is never less than exceptional. Rock is delighted to be associated with historical projects, or those located in heritage-sensitive sites, helping revive their splendour with our quality materials and the consistently high standards of our professional artisans.

Rock pledges direct access to our most senior people

When working with Rock there is a named team of professional staff to support you, both on site and from our offices. All are empowered to make decisions swiftly to keep the project on schedule. However, there may be times when a client wishes to speak to one of our most senior managers. In such cases, any of Rock’s key decision-makers are keen to make themselves available as quickly as possible. That is something our clients tell us they value, and is not as commonplace as it might be throughout our industry.
“As a leader in our market, Rock is a sizeable company,” says John Walsh, our managing director, “but we’ve always consciously shunned the needlessly complex internal structure that characterises some organisations. If one of our clients has a question, they won’t find themselves having to navigate a tortuous hierarchy of people before they get a straight answer. In situations where I am the person most qualified to make a decision, I want everyone to know that they are welcome to consult me personally.”
Growing out of this policy of direct communication, Rock is to launch a simple feedback survey at the end of our involvement on each project. This is in response to the marketplace, which increasingly demands that an accurate picture be captured of the work of each contractor on the day of its completion.

Look out, and look up, for green walls

At Rock, we’re tireless in our search for innovative finishes that perform excellently in ways not related solely to the waterproofing of roofs. That’s why we are particularly excited about our recent dealings with Den Ouden Export, a Dutch company specialising in the supply of plant screen cladding. For over 15 years the business has been heavily involved in the development of green ‘living walls’, a pre-grown, vertical system which can be easily applied in practically any place, requires little maintenance and satisfies many environmental aspirations.

We have seen for ourselves how important it can be to combine engineering proficiency, horticultural expertise and a flair for design to create a product that appeals strongly to our clients’ love of innovation. Whether employed as attractive vertical courtyards, vegetated partition walls or green noise barriers, this is a system we believe will enhance many projects in the UK market. Rock are delighted to be able to deliver this new product range.

Rock lays claim to the Square Mile’s largest green roof

Each month we update this website with case studies which illustrate Rock’s impressive range of  waterproofing systems, traditional roofing skills and renewable energy technology. It’s a year since we added Cannon Place to the Infrastructure section of our Project Gallery, but we’re throwing the spotlight once again on this landmark building in the heart of London’s financial district. The reason? We have learnt that its green roof, which was delivered by Rock, is now recognised as the largest in the City.
But size isn’t everything. It’s great to be the leader in terms of scale, but Rock places just as much importance on retaining the top spot in terms of the quality of our design and installation.

Cannon Place is a mixed use scheme on a brownfield site above a major transport interchange. Its environmental impact was always a key consideration for Hines, the developer. As a result, main contractor Laing O’Rourke appointed Rock to deliver an inverted waterproofing system combined with an extensive green roof. To help mitigate the urban heat island effect and encourage the biodiversity of the City’s environment, Rock created a sedum blanket roof which could be home to indigenous herbs, grasses and wildlife.

Today, Rock is undertaking another large-scale bio-diverse roof, this time for Westfield Stratford City adjacent to the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Covering an area of 10,000 sq m, this ecological brown roof will provide a habitat to support flora and fauna and reduce rainwater run-off. It’s the latest example of why so many clients trust Rock to design, supply and install even the largest and most complex bio-diverse roof systems.

Rock Wins Full Marks For Tackling Deflections

Roof waterproofing specialist Rock was called in to provide technical and practical support on a major schools building project – par for the course for a market-leader, but it was unaware that it would end up solving a testing industry issue at the same time.

When a major contractor was commissioned to rejuvenate and rebuild over 20 schools in the North West it turned to 40-year roofing veteran Rock to install traditional inverted roofs on the first two projects to get the green light. With both buildings set to open for the new term in September - and construction being managed on existing school sites close to residential areas - it was vital that the project was safely managed within tight timescales. Cost-effectiveness and client satisfaction were of course also key.

With large expanses of flat roofing to cover – and energy efficiency as well as waterproofing a core client demand – the kit specified was Rock’s Flexiphalte triple protection system, a fully bonded high performance waterproofing system combining three core elements: a high performance membrane, overlain by durable Flexiphalte Pommar polymer modified mastic asphalt and covered with a 180mm thick layer of ROOFMATE SL-A insulation from Dow Building Solutions. The system was covered with ballast and paving slabs to produce a standard inverted roof finish.

“We recommended Flexiphalte triple protection for this job because we believe it gives a level of protection that cannot be matched by any other type of roofing system or membrane, giving “lifetime” performance equal to the substrate upon which it is laid,” said Mike Goddard, Rock’s Construction Director. “We felt ROOFMATE SL-A was the right insulation choice because it’s readily available, robust with a high compressive strength, easy to work with and we’ve seen its long-term performance first-hand.”

However, it was prior to installing the ROOFMATE insulation that Rock, in collaboration with the lead contractor, wanted to ensure adequate drainage - without having to resort to the cost of laying additional screed on what had already been designed as a ‘zero pitch’ roof.

Although BS 6229:2003 recommends that an appropriate fall be accommodated on roof designs where there are continuously supported coverings, the British Board of Agrément (BBA)’s Information Bulletin No.4 acknowledges zero pitch roofs, emphasising the need to ensure drainage is sufficient and effective. Both designs are considered correct practice as long as drainage is adequate – but for zero pitch roofs this means any possibility of deflections must be designed-out in order to ensure water will not pond on the roof.

With a project already running to tight timescales and within strict cost limitations, the estimated six figure additional cost associated with adding screed and potentially raising parapet height was not an option. Rock’s solution was to carefully survey the roof for deflections and add additional Flexiphalte Pommar asphalt to potential problem areas, enabling a completely flat finish and ensuring water would run off to drainage outlets already specified and installed.

“The additional asphalt fuses entirely with the existing layer meaning we can still provide a fully-bonded system - but with no deflections,” continued Mike. “We’ve developed a solution that can either be built in at design stage where a zero pitch roof is favoured for cost reasons, or as a retrofit solution if deflections need to be addressed once the asphalt waterproofing has been completed.”

“This project was a great example of a main contractor, specialist roofer and materials supplier coming together to develop a solution for the ultimate benefit of the client,” said Richard Powell, Roofing Manager for Dow Building Solutions. “It’s thanks to that positive approach that the industry has found a method of addressing deflections in a cost-effective way based on existing, proven solutions.”

For more information about how Rock’s Flexiphalte triple protection system can be used to help prevent deflections and information about Rock’s other roofing solutions, visit http://www.wearerock.co.uk/. For product and stockist information on ROOFMATE SL-A visit www.styrofoam.co.uk or email below.

Note: JPA Technical Literature has produced a paper entitled “A review of recent guidance on inverted roof construction” which summarises European Technical Approval Guidance 031 (ETAG 031) on inverted roofs and BBA Information Bulletin No. 4. To download a copy visit the Dow Building Solutions website at www.styrofoam.co.uk.

New Rock office to win more contracts in Scotland

In May this year Rock opened a new office in Scotland, a strategic decision aimed at bringing our waterproofing technology and renewable energy systems to a larger UK market. Rock is already established as a Tier 1 partner with a number of Scotland’s main contractors. But our new office will see us consolidate and strengthen our position with a clear determination to capture more work north of the border.

Located in Hamilton, a short distance southeast of Glasgow, Rock’s office is headed by new business development manager Joe McCormack. Joe is a well-known and respected figure in our field, having worked previously for both Bauder and Alumasc, two leading specialist providers of world class waterproofing and green roof systems in Scotland.

“My job is to help put Rock on the map in Scotland,” Joe explains. “Our new registered office is a natural progression forward and proves that we are serious about winning contracts in this part of the world. The number of tender enquiries we have already received is very encouraging. There is work to be had here from utilities companies, local authorities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh councils, as well as projects arising from the Commonwealth Games which Glasgow will host in 2014. I am genuinely excited about working to secure Rock a greater market share in Scotland. It’s a challenge which the new office enables us to tackle on a much more solid footing.”

To contact Joe McCormack, please call 01698 422104 or email him at JMcCormack@wearerock.co.uk

Craig Nelson and Alette Anderson join the Rock team

To support and advance our delivery processes, Rock has taken on two new professionals at our head office in Chiswick. Joining our teams of estimators is Craig Nelson, who comes to us from his role as senior estimator at Proclad, one of Glasgow’s leading roofing contractors. “When it comes to preparing bid packages, Rock prides itself on attention to detail,” Craig says. “Whether the project is medium sized or extremely large and complex, our partnering architects, engineers or contractors know that the cost data we supply is honest and accurate. Years of experience in Scotland have taught me that my job doesn’t simply entail preparing time, cost and labour estimates, but giving customers something extra. By that, I mean bringing extra value to a client’s project by applying my knowledge of specialised methodologies, techniques, principles, or processes. I’m looking forward to helping Rock make any new build or refurbishment scheme more feasible and cost-effective, leading to a better end result for everyone.”

Also joining us is Alette Anderson, who as preconstruction administrator is the first point of contact when Rock is required to price a job. Alette worked previously at Structural Systems, a subsidiary of the P.C. Harrington Group, which specialises primarily in post tensioning, concrete repair and bridge maintenance services. Now focussing on waterproofing and renewable technology for Rock, Alette says she enjoys a high level of interaction with a range of key stakeholders, from the initial quote to final handover. “At Rock, I’ve found front line sales people and tender team colleagues all work together really well to help deliver sharp and highly compelling tender responses to potential clients. One of the most striking things I have already noticed in my time here is the very positive and dynamic atmosphere. People are genuinely encouraged to suggest new ideas that could be employed as part of Rock’s business plan. I know that, apart from Rock’s total professionalism, the UK’s biggest contractors are keen to work with us because they find our outlook and approach refreshing.”

Finance director takes it on the chin for charity

The sight of Rock’s finance director Andrew Wood swinging his fists and stumbling about in a daze is, we’re happy to report, not a common one. Yes, it was a Saturday night and, yes, he was in a pub at the time. It was, however, all for a good cause.

Not to be outdone by John Walsh’s Herculean efforts for charity, Rock’s finance director Andrew Wood weighed in with his own test of physical endurance. No miles of kayaking or marching for Andrew. Instead he elected to, as he delicately put it, “have my head kicked in” at a charity boxing event held at the Grasshopper Inn in Westerham. All proceeds went to Help for Heroes, the charity which works to provide better facilities for wounded British servicemen and women.

The event was a big success and began with a champagne reception, though Andrew had to forego his bubbly for fear that he’d be punch drunk a little later. As it happened he wasn’t out for the count, but still on his feet by the end of his three rounds. Andrew bobbed and weaved his way to raising £3,000 on the night, which we believe does make him a champion of sorts.

John Walsh rises to the challenge for cancer charities

You might wonder just why our managing director John Walsh would choose to spend two weeks in a kayak. Was he testing a new product? Is Rock looking to expand its operations into the field of insulating waterborne craft? Well, no. Paddling 127 miles down a Norwegian fjord may seem crazy, but the motive was eminently sane. John was part of a team that kayaked along Norway’s Sognefjord, the second longest fjord in the world, to raise money in support of two cancer charities.

Although the surrounding mountainous landscape was breathtaking, it was no mean feat to paddle on average 26 miles (an aquatic marathon) each day against the tide, wind and rain at times whilst dodging killer whales and cruise liners on the wider stretches. 

And as if that weren’t enough, a fortnight later John set off with another group to walk the 82 mile length of Hadrian’s Wall. Clearly our MD was on a mission – and one that he energetically accomplished. From the many generous donations he received through his JustGiving web page, John managed to raise over £10,000 for the Ellis Harriet Clark Foundation and the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust Charitable Fund.

So what next for John Walsh? If he proposes abseiling down the outside of the Shard for charity, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Dave Seston Rock’s dedicated technical services manager

When it comes to waterproofing solutions for car parks, Rock has long been associated with quality, value and innovation. The number of our maintenance and refurbishment contracts has steadily increased, which is why we have promoted Dave Seston to the role of technical services manager. With his long experience at Rock, Dave is able to provide a very high standard of technical support to our growing market of maintenance and refurbishment packages.

“Our planned maintenance programme means that one of Rock’s waterproofing specialists will visit, usually once a year, to conduct a thorough inspection of your car park,” Dave explains. “That will be followed by a report which details every aspect, from the building’s watertight integrity through to its lighting, safety systems and vents. Any proposed maintenance work comes with a clear breakdown of costs and will be backed by Rock’s warranty.”

Rock also offers a service that guarantees a response within 24 hours when unforeseen circumstances demand urgent remedy. According to Dave, Rock’s maintenance packages have three main goals. “To keep your costs down, to extend the life of your car park, and to reduce any potential disruption to your business.”

Dave Harris joins Rock as preconstruction manager

As Rock’s product portfolio and services to clients diversify, we have appointed Dave Harris as preconstruction manager. Having previously held posts at Laing O’Rourke and Kier, it may appear that Dave has made an unusual move in leaving behind main contractors to join Rock, a subcontractor. But he admits there is good reason for his decision. “My experience with main contractors means that I know precisely what they are looking for and can help Rock strengthen its offer accordingly. With a main contractor’s perspective I can give valuable input into Rock’s pre-qualification and tender processes.”

Dave will also focus on streamlining supply chain processes and will be a strong business generator with his excellent sector knowledge and relationships. “It’s an exciting challenge,” he admits, “and I’m keen to see the benefits of my contribution in terms of further successes for Rock.”

Rock’s talent for tunnels

No tunnel ever passes through a completely dry substrate, which is why water seepage is a problem so often associated with tunnels. At Rock, we appreciate how they must be kept dry for reasons of safety, maintenance and efficient operation. For any main contractor embarking on a project that involves tunnels, we are able to deliver extremely robust waterproofing solutions that are designed to extend the lifecycle of a tunnel and minimise potentially expensive repair and renovation works.

This is due to our unique partnership with Flag-Soprema UK Ltd, a division of the Soprema Group that is one of the largest independent manufacturers of synthetic waterproof membranes in the world. Rock is uniquely placed as its only major UK subcontractor authorised to supply and install Flag-Soprema’s tunnel waterproofing technology. Together with Flag, weare focused on securing work on Crossrail, the project which will see major new railway connections built under central London. This will involve not just the tunnels carrying trains, but also the huge number of interconnecting tunnels forpedestrians. With Rock’s established team of managers and unrivalled knowledge of waterproofing, we believe ourselves to be a clear choice of partner for any major tunnelling scheme.

Rock – your best source for PV

An increasing number of main contractors are turning to Rock for assistance in developing more sustainable buildings through renewable technology. Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic (PV) arrays has advanced considerably in recent years. As a company that is committed to using roofs more intelligently, we’re keen to promote the role that PV can play in helping to create zero carbon buildings.

Rock is able to offer a complete photovoltaics package. We are accredited to supply and install PV by the MCS, which certifies microgeneration technologies used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources. But why come to Rock for PV? Because we strongly believe that a leader in waterproofing technology is most appropriate. Only a company with Rock’s keen understanding and experience in roofing is able to ensure that a PV system is installed in such a way that the integrity of your roof’s waterproofing is fully maintained. To discover more on how photovoltaics can benefit your building, get in touch with Rock today.

Green roofs and asphalt – a peerless combination

Rock is the supplier of the Ultimate Green Roof, an extensive and highly flexible system which has been employed by architects and developers to enhance all types of buildings. A flat roof designed to support plant life is, of course, only viable when combined with an efficient waterproofing solution. Adaptable, cost-efficient and extremely robust, asphalt is the first choice for many applications. But for green roofs especially, its capabilities have been proven time and time again.

The landscaped terraces we created for Watermark Place, one of the City’s newest and most prestigious developments, is supported by our Flexiphalte Triple Protection, a mastic asphalt that ensures complete peace of mind. On an earlier project, we supplied £7million of asphalt for Paradise Street, located at the heart of the Liverpool ONE retail complex. This was a buried podium deck with a green roof, which represents a very demanding environment for waterproofing. Such is our asphalt’s durability, however, that in the five years since installation, Rock have never once been called back for even the most minor repair work.

NBS specifications for Rock’s J21 asphalte

At Rock, we want to make it simple for you to evaluate the suitability of our core waterproofing products for your new-build or refurbishment project. With this in mind, we’ve taken steps to make the details on some of our products much more accessible. For the first time, the Rock website will feature NBS specifications for our own manufactured J21 mastic asphalt products. This, we believe, will greatly assist architects and developers who are looking to select the best quality products for car parks, lorry decks, structural waterproofing and roofing.

One of the chief reasons that Rock has remained market leader is that we are unique in being both a manufacturer and contractor. And that, as many clients have discovered, comes with major advantages in terms of the quality of the product itself and how it is installed on site.
To access the standard NBS specifications for Rock’s J21 asphalte, please register with our website.

Investing in our future

Rock, the market leader in waterproofing and renewable technology, has enjoyed considerable industry recognition lately thanks to a number of high profile schemes. Foremost amongst these is The Shard, whilst other projects such as the Knightsbridge Palace Hotel, Westfield Stratford City and Café Royal have also done much to further our reputation. This is especially gratifying when one takes into account the economic downturn which continues to affect many areas of our industry. But even when the market is flat, Rock is determined to win a greater share of it and capitalise on recent successes. We’re investing in our business today to stimulate growth tomorrow. As part of that strategy, Rock have recently employed Simon Hornby and Jane Watson, who have both previously worked for major roofing contractors.

Simon Hornby joins our teams of estimators to help strengthen Rock’s ability to respond to PQQs and tender submissions. “In the current climate,” says Simon, “the competition for roofing contracts has become tougher than ever. As a result, the quality of our tenders has to be top notch. There certainly is growing recognition of precisely what Rock can deliver. But to achieve our goals it is vital we ensure that our tenders are more professional, compelling and accurate, and better presented, than those of our rivals. We need to communicate Rock’s strengths and vision in a way that has direct relevance for our potential business partners.”

Rock’s new business development manager, Jane Watson, shares the task of attracting new clients and targeting markets. Jane believes that “a huge amount has been achieved already in evolving the old Rock Asphalte business into the Rock we know today. Rock offers intelligent waterproofing, renewable technology and a host of other services, and the rebranding reflects that. Our job now is to build on the rebranding and spread the message that Rock is best in market when it comes to delivering big, high profile projects. By extending our client base and improving our service to existing partners, Rock has its sights set firmly on capturing more of the market.”

New life for an old haunt – the return of Café Royal

It’s true to say that Rock’s construction industry partners choose to work with us primarily because of our status as a market leader in waterproofing and renewable technology. However, a project may also call for more traditional roofing skills. Main contractors know that Rock have a team of craftsmen able to deliver building elements such as mansards, lead welding, cappings, tiles and slates. It’s because we are proficient in both cutting-edge and traditional forms of roofing that we are able to offer a total package for almost any type of project. 

A case in point is the redevelopment of the Café Royal building, just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus. For over a hundred years it was a chic hangout for the likes of Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, Noel Coward, Winston Churchill, Brigitte Bardot, Mick Jagger, Muhammad Ali and Princess Diana. Closed in 2008, the Grade I listed building is currently being transformed into a luxury five star hotel with 160 rooms and suites, spa and gym, restaurants and bars, business centre and banqueting rooms. A selection of exclusive shops offering the world’s leading brands will fill the 1,500 sq m of prime Regent Street retail space to be established at ground and basement level. 

Rock is delighted to have been selected by main contractor Mace to help restore the charm, character and architectural flair of this most celebrated of venues. It presents a unique opportunity for us to demonstrate the skills of our artisans in completely refurbishing the mansard. In addition to extensive lead works, we are covering the whole roof with a combination of new and carefully reclaimed traditional Westmoreland slate from the original roof. Rock’s modern waterproofing solutions are also employed for the base for the rooftop plant room which is central to the smooth operation of the entire building.

As the job progresses, Mace marks each of its contract partners against its own stringent KPIs. To date, Rock has scored top marks in each category and won praise from Mace’s project manager Tim Wood. “Rock have got off to the best possible start,” Tim Wood told us. “On previous schemes for Mace they have delivered a range of roofing skills that is truly impressive in its breadth. So Rock were naturally our first choice for tackling the difficulties that come with converting a historic, listed building such as Café Royal into a superior hotel for the twenty-first century.”