Months-long delay to completion caused by vibrating floors at new West End office costs developer dear in rent

Vibrating floors at Gardiner & Theobald’s new West End office have delayed completion by several months, costing developer the City of London Corporation hundreds of thousands of pounds in rent

The consultant was originally expected to take possession of the Watkins Gray International and Collado Collins-designed 10 South Crescent early this year. The developer announced completion of the £24m scheme in May, but official sign-off was delayed while dampers were fitted to stop vibrations in a gallery on the top floor (pictured).

The rent is understood to be about £55 per ft2, with an initial rent-free period. The building includes 60,000ft2 of office space.

A source close to the project, which was built by Costain and engineered by Campbell Reith Hill, said: “It’s the same principle as the wobbly [Millennium] bridge. Floor slabs will vibrate at a frequency when you jump up and down a bit. If they vibrate at a frequency consistent with walking pace, the vibration gets worse.”

Roy Collado, partner in Collado Collins, said: “There’s a very small piece on the top floor which was moving outside of the tolerances. The engineer has spent a couple of months with the contractor looking at ways to remove that movement without any visual impact. They’ve done it and G&T will now take possession.”

Tony Burton, G&T’s senior partner, played down the issue. He said: “While there has been a minor problem with one part of the building, this is now resolved.”

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