White City Living Phase 3, London

Project Overview

White City Living is a new mixed-use development from St James (a member of Berkeley Group) that has seen the gradual transformation of a former industrial site into a thriving urban quarter of West London. The development provides over 1800 multi-tenured homes above a ground floor comprising commercial, business and leisure facilities, set within 8 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens. Phase 3 of the development involved the construction of Cassini Tower – an elegant new curved landmark – and the creation of one of the largest water features within a mixed-use development in the UK.

Our objective was to provide a comprehensive waterproofing package to meet the exacting performance and sustainability requirements set out by St James.

Client Brief

Sustainability is an essential element of the St James ethos across all of its developments. At White City Living, the waterproofing needs were diverse, due to the varied ‘zones’ across the complex. Unparalleled waterproofing was vital across all zones, and the client’s preference was for a single source solution. We were required to present a robust and flexible package to address the sustainability and lifecycle credentials which were key to the specification. St James also requested leak detection tests, in order to ensure the ongoing integrity of the product package.

Solution

Having built a successful working relationship with Berkeley Group/St James across Phases 1 and 2 of White City Living, and many of their previous high-profile developments, we worked closely with the technical team and specialist roofing contractor, Fenland Flat Roofing, to deliver an unrivalled combination of products, expertise and on-site support.

Our Hydrotech hot melt system was chosen for the podium, main roof areas, terraces and balconies of Cassini Tower. Hydrotech is a monolithic membrane applied in a liquid state resulting in no seams. It has a well-established reputation for suitability to new build applications, and can be used to designed zero falls. The system is designed to last the lifetime of the buidling structure, and has over 50 years of global use, and zero product failures.

Hydrotech was used to waterproof the unique water feature, further highlighting the system’s durability and long-term reliability. This was an intricate installation requiring careful collaboration between Alumasc, the architect Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher, Fenland Flat Roofing, and the ceramic artist who created unique mosaic tiles installed within the waterscape.

Hydrotech was also used to detail the balustrades and roof penetrations of Cassini Tower. This liquid waterproofing system adapted seamlessly to the building’s curved design and continuous balustrade, providing a waterproofing solution with a seamless pitch pocket detail that extended around the entire perimeter on every alternate floor. Meanwhile, Caltech QC Detailing was used to waterproof the external perimeter of the high level canopy.

To complete the package, Blackdown Extensive Green Roofs were installed on the main roof areas. This maximises green space and further contributes to the overall sustainability of the development within its urban surroundings. Air quality, wildlife habitats and energy consumption will all be massively improved, and importantly, the green roofing will also mitigate the risk of flooding by absorbing and retaining rainwater.

Collaboration

Close teamwork is an important part of any successful project, but on one which presents as many individual challenges as White City Living Phase 3, it is crucial.

Alumasc Roofing has nurtured relationships with Berkeley Group and Fenland Flat Roofing over previous years and multiple prestigious projects. Our technical teams were instrumental in refining design details, and in providing extensive support to the architect and St James on
detailing and wide-ranging technical queries.

Chris Buckley, Technical Design Manager, Alumasc Roofing, said “our technical team worked in close collaboration with the St James team to overcome various design challenges, including the intricate requirements of the water feature. The design successfully balanced both the aesthetic elements and the functional demands, ensuring that multiple penetrations were carefully managed. This approach preserved the integrity of the system while accommodating the essential features specified.”

This collaborative approach maximised our combined knowledge and expertise, resulting in a mutual trust and fluency that gives a project like this its very best chance of success.

Alumasc Innovations

We are constantly advancing our product portfolio by enhancing the building envelope with innovations such as biosolar, CO₂-neutralising membranes, and materials with increased recycled content.
Our collaborative approach with all stakeholders enables us to address challenges effectively and achieve both environmental objectives and high-performance standards.