De Boer scans the horizon at Hyde Park!
While the average visitor to
London’s Hyde Park might carry an ice cream, their sunglasses or a good book,
staff at De Boer have opted for another “must-have” accessory – the latest in
radar technology.
The
structure specialist has been baffling onlookers by conducting detailed
underground scans of a huge area of the park near to historic Speakers’ Corner
as it prepares to provide facilities for this summer’s spectacular Playtex
MoonWalk charity event.
De
Boer’s meticulous attention to detail follows the relocation of the annual
fundraising extravaganza from its previous home on the south-east corner of
Hyde Park because of routine grass re-seeding by Royal Parks’ staff.
As
well as presenting the everyday challenges of hidden utility pipes and cables,
the Speakers’ Corner site – near Marble Arch – also lies immediately above an
underground car park. It means De Boer’s team has had to use specialist radar
equipment to locate the roof and walls of the car park, in addition to carrying
out a detailed topographical survey of the entire area.
And
with The MoonWalk using De Boer’s huge Pink Galaxy structure, measuring a
mighty 152 metres by 60 metres and requiring more than 260 supporting poles, it
has involved the scanning of more than 9,000 square metres of London’s famous
park.
De
Boer Key Accounts Manager Kate Morrison explained: “Identifying underground
services such as gas, water and electricity is all part of De Boer’s everyday
work but our preparations for The 2010 MoonWalk have been complicated by Hyde
Park’s underground parking. By using radar equipment we’ve managed to confirm
the exact location of the car park’s walls and ceilings before any building
work gets under way.”
Having
completed its detailed scans, De Boer’s team now has several weeks to assess
the data ahead of its equipment moving on site. Building work is due to begin
in early May, ahead of The MoonWalk taking place on the night of Saturday May
15.
Now
in its 13th year, the charity spectacular involves 15,000 people
setting off from Hyde Park on a power-walk through the streets of London to
raise money for breast cancer causes. The event – which encourages participants
to wear decorated bras as part of their outfit – is one of a number of
fund-raising activities organised by charity Walk the Walk.
De
Boer has been a long-time supplier to The MoonWalk, with the company’s Pink
Galaxy designed and created in 2006 specifically in the charity’s vivid
corporate colour.
The
structure has since been used at successive events and will be accompanied at
this year’s gathering by a range of De Boer’s other products, including
Chalets, Walkways and A-frame structures, for uses such as baggage storage, VIP
facilities, kitchen, merchandising unit and information desk.
Kate
Morrison added: “The size of the Pink Galaxy – equal to the playing areas of 35
tennis courts and standing 26 metres high – means it has a huge impact on the
London skyline. But it also involves a lot of preparation work to ensure there
are no potential issues underground!”