LONDON, May 23: SIAC Construction Ltd has successfully completed the re-development one of the world’s most iconic tourist destinations – London’s Leicester Square.
The challenging construction project, undertaken for Westminster City Council, was completed on schedule and the re-constructed Square will be launched at glittering red carpet party tonight (Wednesday).
SIAC was tasked with transforming the square – which is known as the “Home of Cinema” in recognition of the many premieres which take place there each year.
SIAC said they were “delighted” with the delivery of the project which has transformed the world famous London square.
Director John Geoghegan said: “This was a complex, difficult project with unique challenges requiring a dedicated management team, many of whom moved over from Ireland.
“We worked in close co-operation with Westminster City Council, the Leicester Square stakeholders and traders to deliver this project successfully.
“We at SIAC take pride in taking on and delivering logistically challenging projects such as this.”
The challenges facing SIAC included an amazing 125 million visitors to Leicester Square during the construction period.
Mr Geoghegan added: “As a landmark project, on which to demonstrate SIAC’s capability, one could not ask for a better challenge.
“Removing and reconstructing 12,500 square metres of city streets at the centre of the world’s greatest city, to the highest standards of safety and quality, with 350,000 people moving through the site on a daily basis, certainly focussed the management team.
“With completion required in advance of the Olympics failure to deliver was not an option. The finished project is a credit to all involved: client, designers, architects, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and operatives alike. ”
Westminster City Council appointed SIAC to work on the project in October 2010 with work commencing on site in early 2011 when the specified stone paving began to arrive from quarries in China and France.
Westminster City Council’s vision included new white granite ribbon seating, grey and black granite pavings, landscaped gardens, architecturally designed lighting and feature dancing fountains, unique stainless steel railings and gates, together with hi-tech communications and traffic management systems to manage the Square into the future.
SIAC Construction Ltd., who celebrate their centenary year in 2013, are currently expanding their successful civil engineering business into the UK.
The successful completion of the Leicester Square project coincides with very recent award of a design and construct highway project, with UK joint venture partner Galliford Try, on the A380 at Kingkerswell in Devon.