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Project:	Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Date:	15th December 2006
Source:	Mosaic Publicity

 

 

Time and space project reaches crucial phase

 

 

A key feature of the new state-of-the-art Peter Harrison Planetarium, currently under construction at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, has now been installed by specialist glazing contractor English Architectural Glazing (EAG).

 

EAG was commissioned to design a mirrored discoid which fits into the bronze-clad cone and reflects light towards the North Star. The discoid, which has a coloured interlayer, is a fundamental part of the main structure.

 

Commenting on the installation, pre-construction director at EAG Edward Whipp, said: “We had limited space to work because we were unable to remove a temporary roof constructed from scaffolding which is protecting the bronze cladding from rain until it has been fully weatherproofed.

 

“This meant we had to crane in the glass panes that form the discoid between the scaffold structure. The discoid, which measures nine and a half metres in diameter and weighs approximately 3.6 tonnes had to be assembled then fitted at a precise 38.5 degree angle, so it took considerable skill to install.

 

“We were selected by Project Managers Gardiner & Theobald to design, build and install the discoid due to the complexity of the bespoke glazing application. The Royal Observatory is without doubt one of the most important historical and scientific sites in the world so we are absolutely delighted to be associated with such a prestigious and interesting project.”

 

The £210,000 contract awarded to EAG also included the installation of rooflights and glass sliding doors to the foyer of the 120-seat planetarium.

 

The new planetarium is being built as part of the £15.5m Time and Space project at the 330 year old Observatory in Greenwich, the world famous home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line and is due to open in spring 2007.

 

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