40 Broadway

40 Broadway, designed by 3DReid and delivered by RED Construction Group and Titan Brickwork, is a Grade A commercial office development delivering approximately 125,000 sq ft of office space across basement to eighth floor, alongside a ground floor café and a landscaped roof terrace overlooking St James’s Park. Located within the Broadway and Christchurch Gardens Conservation Area and surrounded by Grade II listed buildings, the scheme demanded a sensitive architectural approach, combining a refined natural stone façade to the main elevation with traditional brickwork and a mansard roof to the rear.

IG Masonry Support was appointed to deliver a fully coordinated package across the development, supplying a total 30m of Welded Masonry Support from the ground to third floor, 130 m of Brick Slip Lintels across first to fourth floors, 16 m of B.O.S.S. A1 (Brick on Soffit System), Cast-in Channel, and Brick Cutting Services.

Working in close collaboration with the architect, structural engineer, and brickwork contractor through frequent coordination meetings, we ensured alignment at every stage as the structural and façade design evolved throughout the programme. The complexity of the project demanded careful planning throughout: a shallow 130mm slab, evolving steel positions, changing soffit depths, and bespoke bond patterns all required precise coordination to maintain progress and realise the architectural vision.

A challenge faced throughout the development was the shallow 130mm slab depth, which ruled out standard fixing methods as fixings would have landed in the pour joint and instead required fixing through the upstand. This, combined with slab surveys showing variations in level across the building, meant additional coordination and tolerance were needed to ensure brackets were correctly set out and installed safely and accurately.

The steel positions within the structure also evolved during the programme. In some areas, the proposed levels would have resulted in oversized Welded Masonry Support droppers, so our team worked closely with the structural engineers and design team to review the steel positioning and help achieve the correct soffit level.

The biggest challenge was at second floor level, where projecting brickwork and a flemish bond pattern above the lintels created a complex double lintel detail. The changing depth of the projecting pier required close coordination to maintain the bond pattern and alignment throughout, while the stretcher courses below remained fixed and the courses above required adjustability, adding further precision to the detail.

The use of a unique non-standard 166mm brick introduced an additional layer of coordination, requiring bespoke brick cutting to maintain façade alignment and the intended bond pattern.

IG Masonry Support worked closely with the structural engineers, architect, and site team to develop fixing solutions suitable for the shallow slab depths across the project. By fixing through the upstand and incorporating additional tolerance into the bracket design using slab survey information, our Welded Masonry Support could be installed safely and accurately despite the varying slab levels across the building.

As the steel positions evolved throughout the programme, our team coordinated with the wider design team to review the proposed levels and optimise the masonry support arrangement. This ensured the dropper systems remained practical while maintaining the intended soffit alignment across the façade.

At second floor level, bespoke double Brick Slip Lintels were developed to accommodate the projecting brickwork, with stretcher bond below and flemish bond above. Close coordination with Titan Brickwork ensured the bond pattern remained aligned throughout, while adjustable elements within the upper courses allowed the façade to be maintained consistently across the elevation.

To support the use of the non-standard 166mm brick, IG Masonry Support specialist Brick Cutting Service ensured accurate integration with the surrounding masonry and maintainance of the intended façade appearance and bond pattern throughout the project.

Through close collaboration with 3D Reid Architects and Aros Architects, Red Construction, and Titan Brickwork, IG Masonry Support helped deliver a high-quality façade package that responded to the technical demands of a complex project within a sensitive conservation area setting. Strong working relationships throughout the project ensured clear communication, efficient coordination, and a collaborative approach from design through to installation, helping achieve a consistent and high-quality finish across the development.