Admiralty Arch

Admiralty Arch, one of the United Kingdom’s most iconic landmarks, is undergoing a remarkable transformation into a luxury hotel.
This prestigious redevelopment project blends heritage preservation with modern innovation, requiring sophisticated solutions to meet exacting standards.

High-performance acoustic and vibration control systems are key to ensuring exceptional comfort for future guests while protecting the building’s historic character and architectural integrity.

This project stands as a benchmark in combining heritage conservation with cutting-edge engineering. Transforming Admiralty Arch into a luxury hotel presented a unique challenge: delivering world-class acoustic and vibration control while respecting the heritage and architectural integrity of one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks.

CDM Stravitec developed a bespoke approach addressing the specific needs of each space, collaborating closely with stakeholders and project specifiers to ensure all solutions were jointly defined and technically coordinated.

In the Grand Ballroom, a Stravifloor Deck on pads system was installed across 352 m² (3,789 ft²), with additional perimeter support to accommodate the load of surrounding walls. The oval shape of the room required careful layout and support distribution to ensure consistent structural and acoustic integrity throughout the space.

For the Generator Room, located in the basement to prevent vibration transmission to adjacent spaces, a multi-degree-of-freedom coupled acoustic system was implemented across 33 m² (355 ft²).

A bottom layer of Stravifloor Deck on pads (20 m² / 215 ft²) provided a robust inertia base, topped with Stravifloor Jackup-R on springs (13 m² / 140 ft²) to isolate vibrations.

This combined system guarantees machinery vibrations remain contained, protecting surrounding spaces from disturbance.

In the Speakeasy Bar, Stravifloor Jackup-E, a cutting-edge floating floor system, was installed over 219 m2 (2,356 ft²) to combine high-performance acoustic isolation with comfort and style. As with other critical areas of the project, a FEM analysis was conducted to validate system performance and ensure optimal vibration control under real operating conditions.

This modern solution reflects the luxury atmosphere of the venue while ensuring an intimate and noise-controlled environment.

The Kitchen Area required a robust solution to support heavy and high-profile chiller and freezer units while accommodating integrated drainage within the screed. Over 276 m² (2,971 ft²) of Stravifloor Deck on pads were installed, including the ramp areas, with variable slab thicknesses across the space.

A reduced slab thickness was applied beneath the taller chiller units to respect available floor-to-ceiling height while ensuring structural integrity and consistent acoustic performance.

For the Private Dining Room, Stravifloor Channel on pads [22 m² (237 ft²)] was installed, providing excellent acoustic comfort in a smaller, intimate environment. The dry Stravifloor Channel system incorporated a specially selected mass board, designed to maintain mechanical strength and acoustic performance without overloading the structure.

Finally, in the Mechanical Rooms, Stravimech Bearing S1-775 springs were installed for the air-handling units, and Stravilink DCH-S spring hangers were used for the canopy systems, providing efficient vibration isolation and ensuring quiet operation.

Mounting plates were used (one per mount), and the mounts were fixed directly to the equipment. Direct equipment support was selected instead of an inertia base due to space limitations, budget constraints, and the need for greater installation flexibility - making it the most efficient and suitable solution for this project.

This project showcases how a meticulously engineered combination of Stravifloor solutions, tailored to each room’s specific needs and supported by detailed Finite Element Modelling (FEM) of the floors to ensure optimal performance, can deliver unparalleled acoustic comfort and structural integrity, enabling the transformation of a historic landmark into a world class hospitality experience.

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