The Tate Modern

Client: Seele

M.E.L. (Health and Safety) Consultants Limited assisted Seele in planning, managing and monitoring all aspects of health and safety and, in particular, lifting operations for this project which consisted of a frame of precast concrete components that formed the basic structure for the extension. The aluminium façade elements, supplied by seele and fixed to precast concrete corbels, are fitted in front of the frame. The corbels also support the clay brick outer skin. The unusual geometry of this structure called for seele’s all-round engineering expertise: The façade rises at five different angles, and twists and turns as well. With numerous different openings, fixed lights and structural glazing units, the result is almost 1,805 different window elements. All the window sections comply with the necessary sealing and thermal insulation requirements. And everything is accomplished with minimum space between the precast concrete components, which means minimum erection tolerances.

The sloping glass sliding doors in the entrance zone plus the vertical window strips extending over several floors are among the special constructional features of this project.