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Hospitality · Manchester
For almost a decade, one of the most prestigious and expensive buildings in Manchester was laying empty, until being converted into a hotel in 1996. Twenty-three years later, The Principal hotel was refurbished, and we were tasked by our client to carry out the re-framing project. We were required to work on-site, remove existing frames from each guestroom, swap the artwork, and reinstall the frames. It was a significant undertaking given the fact that the frames, almost 1100 in total, were mostly large but also within a very short timescale.
CASE STUDY
For almost a decade, one of the most prestigious and expensive buildings in Manchester was laying empty, until being converted into a hotel in 1996. Twenty-three years later, The Principal hotel was refurbished, and we were tasked by our client to carry out the re-framing project. We were required to work on-site, remove existing frames from each guestroom, swap the artwork, and reinstall the frames. It was a significant undertaking given the fact that the frames, almost 1100 in total, were mostly large but also within a very short timescale.
Not only were we successful, working with the hotel’s management and staff to seamlessly replace all artwork while the hotel was still running, but we also undertook additional unplanned work restoring damaged old frames by cleaning and reinforcing them, which ultimately resulted in the additional scope of over 150 frames for public areas.
This project had several phases, each with different framing and timescale requirements, and remained active for over a year. During that time, we maintained close cooperation with our client, offering day-to-day framing solutions to ever-evolving décor requirements producing 900 frames for the guestrooms and restaurant spaces.
Our mission is to remain dedicated until the very last frame, which is why we were committed to produce the last 72 bespoke high-end frames and transport them from UK to France in under four days. Consequently, the hotel’s restaurant went on to be elected as the best designed restaurant in Europe 2019, by AHEAD – the Awards for Hospitality, Experience and Design.
We are currently involved in the decoration of the new Edge class of Celebrity Cruise Ships. With the first ship completed in 2018, we are approaching completion on the next ship within the Edge Class for Celebrity, to be christened Apex. The project continues into 2022 with a further two ships already booked for construction!
With around 4000 pieces of artwork filling the cabins, corridors, restaurants and bars, the logistics are huge and complex. Along with a manufacturing partner, we delivered on time, crating all of the artwork on-site and delivering to Barcelona, Spain ready for the installation process to begin. Labelling was critical with this type of project, and the labelling system employed ensured that each piece got to the right location without the need to be opened prior to installation. Furthermore, we created bespoke boxes for each and every piece in-house, knowing that there would be a significant amount for movement of the artwork prior to installation and we can happily report that not one single item arrived damaged.
In 2018, the Russell Hotel reopened as The Principal London after an extensive renovation, for which we produced more than 1600 frames of various sizes and framing styles for guest rooms, corridors, public spaces, and its famous Neptune restaurant, said to be almost identical to the RMS Titanic’s dining room. In same year, the Principal Hotel Company sold 12 hotels in its portfolio (including The Principal London), and the hotel was renamed the Kimpton London, an event that prompted a revision of all guestrooms’ artworks. This involved on-site work, where we were tasked to go inside all guest rooms, remove existing frames, swap the artwork, and put the frames back. The job was completed in less than four weeks, while we maintained highest quality and efficiency, during which the hotel remained open throughout.
We recognise that, sometimes, high volume jobs may require a different approach and to work alongside a wider group of people while representing our clients. We are committed and confident to offer our framing expertise not only confined to our production facilities, but also to whichever place the artistic vision demands it.
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