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Cranes over the YMCA JLP01_08_099331
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Cranes over the YMCA JLP01_08_099331
Central London YMCA, Great Russell Street, Camden, Greater London. The construction of the eastern three tower blocks of the Central London YMCA, showing cranes atop and alongside the structure, viewed over rooftops from the east.
It was announced in February 1971 that Laing had started work on a new building at Central London YMCA, to replace an existing building which had opened in the 1910s. The project comprised four residential towers between 6 and 12 storeys high, above a podium and basements. The towers would accommodate 1, 200 residents in over 700 single and double bedrooms; staff would be accommodated in penthouse suits on the top of the three lower towers. The towers were built on a two-storey podium containing restaurants, offices, a public library, and shops. Beneath the buildings were basements 16 metres below street level, for car parks, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a sports hall, and a conference centre. The basements and podium, which were built using reinforced concrete and structural steel, comprised Phase I of the project; the podium was built onto the foundation piles before the basements had been excavated. Construction of the towers began earlier than originally planned: excavated material was removed from the basements using conveyors rather than mounting cranes onto the podium frame, on which the towers were to be built. The towers were clad in 2, 000 precast concrete panels and had deeply moulded white concrete window panels, both of which were manufactured by John Laing Concrete in Princes Risborough. The towers were built in Phase II and the building was completed in 1977. A cropped version of this photograph was published in the January 1975 edition of Team Spirit, Laings newsletter
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Media ID 24303733
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1970s Building Work City Construction Cranes Engineering High Rise Tower Block Hostel Metropolis
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the grandeur of the Central London YMCA during its construction in the 1970s. The image showcases three towering blocks, adorned with cranes that stand tall against the city skyline. Viewed from the east, this perspective offers a unique glimpse over rooftops and provides a sense of scale for these impressive structures. The project, initiated by Laing in February 1971, aimed to replace an existing building from the early 1900s. Four residential towers were planned, ranging between 6 and 12 storeys high, accommodating over 1,200 residents in single and double bedrooms. The lower towers would also house staff members in penthouse suites. Beneath these magnificent towers lay a two-storey podium containing various amenities such as restaurants, offices, shops, and even a public library. Additionally, basements were constructed below street level to accommodate car parks, swimming pools, gymnasiums, sports halls, and conference centers. The construction process was executed meticulously; reinforced concrete and structural steel formed the foundation for Phase I - comprising of basements and podium - while Phase II focused on erecting the towers themselves. The buildings boasted precast concrete panels manufactured by John Laing Concrete in Princes Risborough. Completed in 1977 after years of dedicated workmanship, the Central London YMCA became an architectural marvel within Camden's Greater London area. This photograph serves as a testament to both human ingenuity and engineering prowess that brought this remarkable structure to life.
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