80 Strand, London

Constructed in 1930–31, the building later became widely known as Shell Mex House. It is a Grade II listed steel‑framed structure with in‑situ concrete floors, clad in Portland stone and white glazed faience. Unlike cavity construction masonry façades, early 20th-century steel frame construction typically featured steel embedded within solid masonry façades, leaving them vulnerable to corrosion from moisture ingress.

To minimise the impact on the façades, the team developed a bespoke investigation and repair approach and continues to undertake ongoing façade monitoring as part of the building’s planned preventative maintenance regime. Critical to this approach is understanding how the stone interfaces with the steel which is unique to each façade.

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