Autumn 1997
Szerelmey are now half way through the prestigious £2.7 Million project to create a striking new Piazza Arcade for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The Company is responsible for the design, development, manufacturing and installation of the stonework and panellised system for Construction Managers, Schal and Lead Design Team, Dixon Jones BDP.

Piazza Arcade will form the corner to Covent Garden''s famous market square and will be supported by 5 square and 24 circular 5m high columns, pre-set around a central steel shaft. Each weighing approximately 7 tonnes in composite form.

At the higher levels a composite stone-clad panellised system has been used to enclose the structure as quickly as possible. The remaining areas of stonework are to be finished in handset natural Portland Stone Cladding.

The Arcade, which will reflect the style of the other arches in the Covent Garden Square, will be finished with two imposing hand-carved Coats of Arms for the Royal Opera House. Szerelmey have pre-manufactured the ashlar stonework and transported all material to York for the dry laying and hand-carving, prior to shipment back to London. When assembled the joints will be carefully filled to profile and washed down with the remaining areas of stonework.

Darren Moore, Szerelmey''s Director in charge of the Project, is extremely pleased how well the skills of Szerelmey''s craftsmen have been combined with developing new techniques and traditional skills. "The Company is building up to a peak of approximately 25 stone craftsmen on site, at any one time," Darren stated "We are confident that the finished arcade will mirror Szerelmey''s professional approach and quality of service."

Winter 1998
Szerelmey''s prestigious £2.7million Stonework package to create two new elevations for the Royal Opera House development in Covent Garden, is due for completion at the end of this year. Working with Architects Dixon Jones BDP, Construction Managers Schal and Structural Engineers Ove Arup from as early as 1996 has enabled Szerelmey to demonstrate their capability in offering unique solutions to practical design problems.

Design Manager, Mark Walden explains ''The Royal Opera House project has really pulled together the variety of skills we offer, and the success of the contract has been helped by the close working relationship of the design team. Being based on site has allowed us to have direct access to all trade contractors and I would advocate using this procedure for future projects of this size.'' As well as developing unique solutions to the design problems posed by the construction of the 29 columns supporting the arcade, Szerelmey have used various types of construction techniques to form the higher levels of the building.

These comprise of composite precast concrete panels clad with Portland Stone, traditional load bearing masonry, an extensive carved cornice and string feature, and hand set ashlar. At right angles to the columns on the James Street and Russell Street corners are two large imposing arches leading into the Arcade. Each arch mirrors those throughout the Piazza and above them are large, hand carvings of the Royal Crest used by the Opera House.
The carving itself was unique, as more traditionally such features would be carved in the stone in relief. In this instance the architects instructed that it should actually be incised.Various scale maquettes and carvings had to be prepared to establish the depth of carving and overall appearance. The commission for the work was given to York carver Dick Reid. The redevelopment of the entire site, which has received support from Lottery funding, will give the Opera House new reception and rehearsal areas, offices and a second studio theatre in time for the new millennium.

Spring 2000
Szerelmey are proud to have been part of the redevelopme