Southbank Centre, London

Work is underway on the modernisation of the whole Southbank Centre site, which extends from County Hall to Waterloo Bridge and along the Queen’s Walk by the river Thames. The New Extension Building is the latest in a number of improvements completed in the last three years. Since the Royal Festival Hall reopened in 2007, 160 million people have visited Southbank Centre and 165,000 artists have performed there. The aim of the project is to ‘Let the Light in’ and emphasises the importance of easier and more direct access, active frontages and clear, more direct pedestrian access at ground level.

GBE Converge were appointed to design, supply, install and commission the fire detection and alarm, smoke extract, disabled refuge, disabled toilet alarm and audio frequency induction loop [AFILS] systems as part of this major refurbishment project.

GBE Converge appointed partners Gent for fire alarm control equipment, fire detection and visual warning devices, Baldwin Boxall for emergency voice communication, disabled toilet alarm and PAVA system and C-Tec for AFILS.

BAM Construction are the main contractor with NG Bailey the M & E contractor. GBE Converge Business Development Manager Mike Parsons commented “We’re really proud to be part of this iconic, world-class arts venue project and it really demonstrates the broad nature of the projects that GBE Converge are trusted to undertake.”