Komfort Supports Retail Development at Waterloo Station

The new balcony and concourse level retail areas at the recently refurbished Waterloo Station have been created using a range of architectural and structural glass from Komfort Architectural Glass, a specialist supply and fix division of leading partitioning supplier Komfort. Spanning 200 metres the balcony was one of the larger architectural projects that Komfort has undertaken and features a bolted frameless glass enclosure as well as all the glass frontages of the 20,000 sq ft of new retail units. By creating the mezzanine, which will eventually house 38 shops, the station has generated both an income stream and improved the space for the 350,000 passengers that pass through the station every day. Contractor, BAM Construction had to take special care when installing the new units in the original building, which dates back to the 1920s as glass had to be fitted around the existing stonework. Plus, much of the work had to be completed when the station was closed, to avoid commuter disruption. David Packham, the Project Manager, said: “There were multiple challenges with this refurbishment many of which needed a specific and bespoke solution, and ensuring minimal disruption and the safety of commuters was a primary concern.” This was especially significant on the concourse level retail units where toughened, heat soak tested, and laminated structural glass was installed with associated support fins, brackets, perimeter channels, and metal louvres. The 21.5mm thick glass was carefully calculated to sustain the required structural loads, and in places reached up to 5 metres high. Around the three ATM locations, there is also featured back painted, toughened glass wall cladding. The use of structural glass continued to the mezzanine level retail units where a combination of toughened and laminated glass assemblies form the shop fronts and feature in the frameless glass doors. Also on the mezzanine level is The Cabin Bar where the free standing enclosure was positioned. The 19.5 mm toughened and laminated structural glass cantilevered screen is supported by stainless steel door posts, and hydraulic hinged glass entrance gates. Two station reception offices also underwent refurbishment work - South West Trains and the overall Waterloo Station Reception. The South West Trains ticket office entrance windows were fitted with toughened and heat soak tested glass panels and perimeter channels, whilst the Station Reception Office was fitted with powder coated aluminium entrance screens with sealed double glazed units and automatic bi-parting doors. Neil Paddock of Komfort said: “Utilising glass as both an aesthetic and structural material is always very satisfying. We have been delighted to be able to recreate the Architect’s design, and help produce a stunning new look for one of London’s busiest stations.”

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