Equal Access Project – Inner Portico
Project Info
This carefully executed timber entrance adds to both the functionality and beauty of St Paul’s Cathedral, helping ensure this world-famous icon is a place for all, regardless of faith or mobility needs.
A key strategic aim for St Pauls has been permanent step-free access to the main church floor. Meticulous research against this complex, highly sensitive heritage setting was undertaken to complete this design situated in the new accessible entrance arrangements at the North Transept.
Home grown Oak was chosen as the primary material for its beauty and ability to pay respect both to the heritage and importance of the building. Meticulously sourced and selected, these materials were deployed with a view to architecture and function to create this carefully crafted structure which calls on the cabinetmaker’s sensibility.
St Paul’s Net Zero 2030 ambitions strongly informed both the material section and design, which minimises both embodied and operational carbon of the new structure by employing glue-laminated timber in the frame, along with the highest standards of care, construction, and craftsmanship.
LocationLondon
ArchitectCaroe Architecture Ltd with Connolly Wellingham
Structural EngineerThe Morton Partnership
Wood SupplierWhippletree
ContractorSir Robert McAlpine
SpeciesHome grown Oak (UK)
ClientThe Corporation of the Cathedral of St Paul in London
JoineryNBJ (London) Limited
Mechanical and Electrical EngineerCBG Consultants
Structural FrameBuckland Timber Ltd
Letterer and ArtworkMaking Marks Ltd