The finished floor under house lights
The finished floor from the gangtry
The finished floor from the gangtry
The Fire Lane
The Fire Lane
The Fire Lane with numerals
A panoramic view of the floor
Introduction
When BBC Studioworks returned to the historic Television Centre in London, Studio 3 required a full studio floor refurbishment before it could support modern multi camera productions. The existing floor was more than 20 years old and had suffered extensive damage from water ingress. Elgood Industrial Flooring was appointed directly by the BBC to remove the worn 6 mm operating surface, repair the underlying screed and install a new Universal Television Studio Floor Operating Surface across 700 m², restoring Studio 3 to broadcast standard.
Background
BBC Television Centre Studio 3 sits at the heart of one of the UK’s most recognisable broadcast locations. After a period away from the site, BBC Studioworks returned to three studios at Television Centre, with each floor requiring attention after years of heavy use and storage.
In Studio 3, prolonged water ingress had damaged the existing operating surface, leaving it unsuitable for the demands of contemporary HD multi camera work. The BBC needed a studio floor that would:
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Deliver super flat performance for smooth camera pedestal tracking
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Provide a durable operating surface for scenery, equipment and crew
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Integrate with existing levels and the underlying screed
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Offer long term reliability and value in a flagship London facility
Elgood Industrial Flooring has had an association with Television Centre for over 50 years and was selected once again to provide a British designed, manufactured and installed Universal Television Studio Floor.
The Challenge
The refurbishment of BBC Television Centre Studio 3 had several specific challenges:
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The 700 m² floor was more than 20 years old and had been significantly damaged by water ingress
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The 6 mm operating surface needed to be removed without compromising the underlying screed
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The screed below required preparation and localised repair before a new studio floor could be installed
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The finished floor had to achieve the flatness and surface quality required for multi camera broadcast production
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All works had to be carried out safely within a large construction site environment at Television Centre, with appropriate qualifications for staff and plant operators
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The project needed to be delivered efficiently and to programme by a compact in house team
The Solution
Elgood Industrial Flooring designed and delivered a complete refurbishment based on the Universal Television Studio Floor Operating Surface.
Key elements of the solution included:
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Removal of the existing operating surface
The damaged 6 mm operating surface was removed using a ride on stripping machine. This allowed the bulk of the old system to be taken up efficiently, exposing the screed beneath for inspection and further preparation. -
Screed preparation and repair
The underlying screed was prepared using a combination of mechanical methods to clean, key and locally repair the surface. This created a stable, level base ready to receive the new Universal Television Studio Floor Operating Surface, correcting defects caused by water damage and long term wear. -
Universal Television Studio Floor Operating Surface
Elgood installed a new Universal Television Studio Floor Operating Surface across the full 700 m² of Studio 3. Manufactured and installed entirely in house, the system is engineered specifically for multi camera studios, providing:-
A super flat operating surface for smooth camera pedestal movement
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A tough, long lasting finish suitable for repeated set builds and intensive production use
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An anti static performance as standard, helping to protect sensitive broadcast electronics
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Qualified in house team and safe working
The BBC Television Centre site was an active construction environment, so Elgood deployed SMSTS and SSSTS qualified staff and its own CPCS qualified forklift driver to manage deliveries and materials handling. All work was carried out by Elgood’s small team of full time employees, trained specifically in the installation of studio floors.
The project was completed ahead of schedule, reflecting both careful planning and the efficiency of an experienced in house installation team.
Outcome
The refurbished Universal Television Studio Floor in BBC Television Centre Studio 3 has delivered:
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A 700 m² super flat operating surface suitable for modern multi camera productions
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A robust studio floor that replaces a water damaged 6 mm operating surface with a fresh, long term solution
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A surface engineered for camera pedestals, scenery and heavy studio use, with built in anti static performance
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A floor installed safely within a major construction site by SMSTS, SSSTS and CPCS qualified personnel
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Continued continuity of service from a British manufacturer and installer with more than five decades of experience at Television Centre
By removing the failed operating surface, repairing the screed and installing a new Universal Television Studio Floor, Elgood Industrial Flooring has helped BBC Studioworks bring Studio 3 back into reliable, broadcast ready use at one of London’s most iconic television locations.
