Phoenix Interiors keeps St Pancras on track

Feb 08

Phoenix Interiors has supplied and fitted a range of bulkheads and ceilings in the acclaimed retail areas of the new multi-million pound Eurostar terminal at the spectacularly refurbished St Pancras station. Mike Belsten, project director at Phoenix Interiors, explained that construction manager ISG chose Phoenix for the £3 million contract: "Because the job simply had to be finished on time so the Queen could open the station. She would not have been amused if we had been late! "Our track record and flexible approach to getting jobs done "come what may" ensured that it was completed on time and to budget."

Among the products installed by Phoenix Interiors were around 2,500 sq m of Durlum Rhombus mesh ceiling panels and Lumeo lighting membranes to the "Circle" retail area; around 300 bespoke 10mm aluminium panels in a run of 200 linear m, which were water jet cut to form fascia grille panels to shop fronts, and around 1,000 sq m of SAS International's System 150 suspended ceilings in ancillary areas.

Mr Belsten said: "Timescales are the main challenge on a project like this where the design of the mechanical, electrical and architectural works often alters during the construction period. This affects the ability of specialist trades to complete their work during the agreed periods." The multi-million pound refurbishment, led by ISG as construction manager, Bechtel as project manager and Chapman Taylor Architects, helped to transform St Pancras International - the new home to Eurostar.

ISG divisional director Ian Purchon said: "I have worked with Phoenix for a long time and I know I am going to get a good response from their guys when I need it. On this project, there was a lot of late scope that had not been allocated. I relied on Phoenix to pick it up and they did not let me down."

Steve Johnson, associate director at Chapman Taylor, concurred:
"Our experience of working with Phoenix has been very good. The documentation they produce is accurate and they have a good attitude towards the work - they are always very proactive and will go out and produce what we need pretty much right first time. "When issues do come up, it is never a problem with them. With the station being Grade I listed, they were ready to step up to the mark and get a special result - they didn't treat it like any old job."