The Connaught Rooms
Refurbishment of Conference and Banqueting Suites
Utopia Projects has been working with Principal Hayley Hotels and Conference Venues for the last five years. In November 2009, the newly refurbished Connaught Rooms were unveiled on time, on budget, as per the brief: “Central London's largest, most sophisticated and high-tech conference and banqueting venues”.
Utopia worked alongside designers Charles Leon Associates, and PFX Contracts, to transform the 29 facilities, which has over 15,000m2 of floor space, including the most impressive banqueting suite in London. Utopia’s role was to create detailed specifications for the DDA, advising on sanitary ware and brassware that would be best-suited for energy/water and maintenance saving, alongside budget constraints and a challenging programme.
The client, Karen Cleaver, Principal Hayley’s Director of Design, provided a very specific vision: “… to create an atmosphere which respects the proportion and detailing of the original architecture while incorporating contemporary furnishing and design sensibilities. Most importantly, we understand the importance of the guests' expectations and plan to exceed them.”
Charles Leon Associates were chosen because they could give the project a unique personality by bringing theatre and drama into the project, yet still remain practical as they have a responsibility policy encompassing ecological, environmental and social issues, which was important to Principal Hayley, who are developing their own green strategy.
Eddie Lever, Villeroy & Boch’s National Contracts Bathroom and Tile Account Manager describes their involvement: ”The Connaught Rooms was a fabulous project using Villeroy & Boch's most technically advanced product. The specification was driven from a design and quality point of view where the products needed to look great but be functional. To elaborate on this we used Subway Urinals that allowed the pipework to be concealed along with the Pro-Detect system, which uses radar technology to determine when the urinal needs to flush. This gives the balance of a product that looks beautiful when fitted yet offers high levels of hygiene and fantastic water savings.”
Richard Goodier, Utopia Projects concluded: “We were delighted to help pinpoint exactly the right products on such a prestigious project, and help ensure the budget and schedule was adhered to. The Connaught Rooms is a typical example of how Utopia Project’s industry know-how can help make a difference – it’s all in the detail.”
