A landmark building on London’s South Bank, King’s Reach Tower was designed by Richard Seifert and completed in 1972. For many years it was home of IPC Media, publisher of magazines ranging from Woman’s Weekly to Nuts, but has been empty since 2007. As plans for its refurbishment are now progressing, the building has been comprehensively stripped out in a five month contract by General Demolition.

Comprising a 32-storey tower plus adjacent six-storey podium building, the site has been earmarked for transformation into a mixed-use development, which will possibly include the recladding and extension of the existing tower.

General Demolition has carried out works to both buildings, stripping out all internals including the mechanical and electrical services, plant, fixtures and fittings. It has also demolished two covered link bridges that connected the podium with neighbouring 111m-tall tower.

Key challenges included removing the tower’s eight lifts, which was achieved by cutting the cables and lowering the cars slowly using a block and tackle, while stripping out the fixtures in the shafts during the descent. The cars themselves were then disassembled and removed at ground level.

General Demolition was appointed to undertake the demolition works by real estate company CIT, which owns the site in joint venture with Riyadh-based Jadwa Investment. Work was successfully completed on time and to budget. Keeping the local community abreast of developments was a priority when carrying out the works, with measures including a newsletter distributed to residents and businesses.

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