Stannah – expanding education and culture in London

For 115 years, London’s Grade II Listed Bishopsgate Institute has been an educational and cultural focus for both the local community and visitors from afar. Now, with the addition of two Stannah lift products – a 13-person Xtralift passenger lift and a Microlift 50C service lift or ‘dumbwaiter’ – the three floors have been made accessible to people of all mobility levels, from pushchair-pushers to wheelchair-users. Erected in 1895 ‘for the benefit of the public to promote lectures, exhibitions and otherwise the advancement of literature, science and the fine arts’, the Institute now offers a range of courses, events and meetings including conferences, events and launches, examinations and rehearsals, as well as more intimate meetings and corporate training events. A charitable trust, it also offers a community programme that provides financial and social support to local people in need. The Xtralift links the three floors, opening up the Institute to everyone, from the lower-ground-floor classrooms and learning room to the ground-floor Great Hall and Library, and the Upper Hall on the top floor – a large space available for hire for events, training and exams. Traction-drive provides heavy duty haulage, and the through-car capability ensures that all floors are fully served. Installed in a completely new shaft, this motor-roomless model saves space by housing the drive mechanism in the top of the shaft, with the control panel mounted adjacent to the lift on the top floor. This installation has endorsed the Institute’s policy of total inclusion, and helps the premises’ owners meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Stannah’s Xtralift range of passenger lifts is designed for busy environments, providing more capacity, with the ability to travel a little further and faster than standard passenger lifts. The Stannah Xtralift range includes six standard capacity models from 17-33 persons, with lots of features and options. All Xtralifts come with an excellent range of lift car finishes available right across the range. The Microlift 50C acts as a book hoist in the Library, a free, independent resource open every week day. The lift connects the Researchers’ area with the archive store below, allowing staff to retrieve books and archives quickly and easily. With researchers coming from all over the country to access the Institute’s collections on the history of London, and labour, co-operative, freethought and humanist movements, the Microlift 50C speeds up access to this wealth of information. Ideal for the repeated movement of smaller goods around busy environments, the Stannah Microlift is Europe’s largest selling range of service lifts. In action since February 2010, both installations have optimised the function of the building without compromising its architectural heritage – a blend of Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and the typically Victorian. Mark Payne, Surveyor for the main contractor, Neilcott Construction Limited, was impressed by the Stannah team who “worked with us to find a competitive lift that fulfilled the client’s requirements”. These sentiments were echoed by the Bishopsgate Institute Marketing Manager, Alis Templeton: “As visitor traffic escalated, we really needed to improve access for everyone, including those who have some trouble getting around our building. The Xtralift gives us the high-volume people-moving capability we need, and the Microlift makes accessing information for people in the Library faster and more efficient. Both products help us deliver an even better service to everyone – staff and visitors alike.” Stannah is also providing a full support package with both lifts being looked after by the Dartford branch of Stannah Lift Services. Part of Stannah’s nationwide network of service branches, Dartford is on-hand 24/7, 365 days a year to keep the lifts in peak condition, ensuring that the Bishopsgate Institute delivers total access for all to its full range of events and facilities.