When restoration and conservation work takes place on landmark buildings, scaffolding is unavoidable. Yet for public-facing venues, exposed scaffolding can detract from the visitor experience and disrupt the architectural beauty people come to see.
A professionally managed building wrap installation provides a practical and visually impressive solution. By concealing scaffold structures behind high-resolution printed graphics, heritage sites can continue welcoming visitors while essential renovation work progresses behind the scenes.
Project Print Management recently delivered a building wrap installation to cover scaffold at Somerset House, one of London’s most recognised neoclassical landmarks. This project demonstrates how careful design, material selection and installation expertise combine to protect both the building and its reputation.
Why Building Wrap Installation Matters
Scaffolding is a necessary component of restoration, cleaning and structural repair. However, on historic buildings, it can:
Obscure architectural features
Disrupt photography
Affect visitor perception
Diminish the overall setting
Impact events and exhibitions
A building wrap installation transforms an unsightly scaffold into a visually cohesive façade. Rather than exposing construction works, the wrap can replicate architectural detail, display sympathetic imagery or present refined branding.
For public institutions, this helps reassure visitors that care has been taken to preserve both the structure and the experience.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is an impressive Grade I listed building designed in the neoclassical style.
Historically, it was once home to the General Register Office (GRO), the government body responsible for recording vital records such as births, deaths and marriages.
Today, Somerset House operates as a major cultural destination. It hosts:
Art exhibitions
Restaurants and cafés
Open-air events
Concert performances
Ice skating in winter
Film and photography shoots
It has also featured in major film productions, including appearances within the James Bond franchise.
Given its status as a public venue and tourist attraction, maintaining visual appeal during restoration is critical.
The Challenge: Concealing Scaffold on a Heritage Building
Historic buildings require ongoing maintenance. Over centuries, Somerset House has undergone expansion, repair and restoration to preserve its architectural integrity.
However, renovation works present a particular challenge:
The building is open to the public
It is frequently photographed
It generates income through events and exhibitions
Visitors come specifically to admire the architecture
Exposed scaffolding risks detracting from the experience. A building wrap installation offered a solution that would:
Conceal the scaffold structure
Preserve the building’s visual presence
Maintain a premium appearance
Protect the reputation of the venue
The Importance of Design in Building Wrap Installation
Design is the most critical element of any large-format print project — and scaffold wraps are no exception.
Poor design can undermine the entire installation. Once printed and installed, correcting mistakes is costly and, in some cases, impossible within required deadlines.
Particularly for venues hosting exhibitions or ticketed events, there is rarely flexibility for reprints.
That is why investing time at the design stage is essential. This includes:
Accurate site measurements
Perspective alignment
Colour matching
Scaled artwork preparation
Viewing angle consideration
Partnering with an experienced print management company ensures that artwork is prepared correctly from the outset, reducing risk and protecting budgets.
Material Selection: Why We Used Solid PVC
For this building wrap installation at Somerset House, we chose to print onto solid PVC rather than standard mesh.
Mesh PVC is often used for scaffold wraps because it is:
Lightweight
Wind-permeable
Easier to handle at scale
However, mesh has limitations. Depending on lighting conditions, scaffolding can sometimes remain faintly visible through the perforations. When the sun sits behind the wrap, the scaffold structure can become silhouetted, reducing image clarity.
Given the importance of presentation at Somerset House, we selected solid PVC material to achieve:
Complete visual coverage
Maximum opacity
Crisp, high-resolution reproduction
Elimination of scaffold shadowing
This ensured the final appearance was clean, bold and uninterrupted.
High-Resolution Digital Printing
The building wrap was digitally printed at high resolution to maintain image sharpness across a large surface area.
Key considerations included:
Maintaining tonal accuracy
Preventing pixelation
Ensuring seamless panel joins
Aligning architectural details
Large-format prints can exceed several metres in height and width. Even small errors become magnified at scale, so precision during pre-press preparation is critical.
Our team carefully prepared artwork to ensure that once installed, the wrap appeared visually balanced and professionally executed.
Installation Considerations for building wrap installation
Building wrap installation is not simply a print job — it requires coordination with scaffold contractors and structural teams.
Important installation factors include:
Wind loading
Tensioning
Secure fixing methods
Edge reinforcement
Health and safety compliance
The wrap must be tensioned evenly to avoid rippling or sagging. Uneven tension can distort printed imagery and reduce overall impact.
On a heritage building like Somerset House, care must also be taken to avoid damage to stonework or architectural features.
Enhancing the Visitor Experience with a building wrap installation
For venues operating as businesses, maintaining visual standards during construction is more than aesthetic — it is commercial.
A well-executed building wrap installation:
Demonstrates professionalism
Signals investment in quality
Preserves architectural identity
Reassures visitors
Protects brand perception
Tourists visiting Somerset House expect to experience its architectural grandeur. By concealing scaffold structures, the wrap ensures that renovation works do not dominate the visual landscape.
Why Have a Building Wrap Installation?
There are several compelling reasons to consider building wrap installation during renovation:
1. Visual Continuity
It preserves the building’s appearance while work is underway.
2. Reputation Protection
Visitors and paying customers see a managed, considered solution rather than exposed construction.
3. Marketing Opportunity
Wraps can incorporate sympathetic design, branding or event messaging where appropriate.
4. Photography Friendly
Historic landmarks are frequently photographed. A printed wrap prevents scaffolding from dominating images.
5. Enhanced Public Perception
It signals that building owners are conscious of presentation and visitor experience.
Heritage Buildings and Commercial Viability
Like many historic landmarks, Somerset House must balance conservation with commercial sustainability.
Heritage buildings require constant maintenance. Stonework cleaning, structural repairs and façade restoration are ongoing processes.
At the same time, they must remain:
Financially viable
Open to the public
Event-ready
Attractive to tourists
This makes renovation particularly challenging. Construction work cannot completely disrupt the public-facing aspect of the venue.
A building wrap installation bridges that gap — enabling necessary conservation while maintaining commercial activity.
Getting It Right First Time with a building wrap installation
Reprints on large-scale scaffold wraps are expensive and time-consuming. Deadlines linked to exhibitions or seasonal events leave little room for error.
That is why working with a reputable print management partner matters.
Project Print Management oversees:
Site surveys
Artwork preparation
Material selection
Production management
Installation coordination
This end-to-end approach reduces risk and ensures that building wrap installations are delivered on schedule and to specification.
Technical Expertise Meets Creative Precision for building wrap installation
Delivering a successful building wrap installation requires both technical and creative expertise.
The process involves:
Accurate measurement of scaffold structure
Detailed artwork alignment
Selection of appropriate print substrate
High-resolution digital production
Careful installation and tensioning
Each stage affects the final result. Even minor inaccuracies can impact the illusion once installed.
At Somerset House, the finished wrap provided a clean, uninterrupted façade that concealed construction activity while preserving the integrity of the building’s appearance.
Long-Term Benefits
For heritage venues, building wrap installation offers more than short-term cosmetic improvement.
It contributes to:
Sustained visitor satisfaction
Positive public perception
Event continuity
Media-friendly presentation
Enhanced stakeholder confidence
In high-profile locations, maintaining visual standards is essential throughout restoration works.
The building wrap installation at Somerset House demonstrates how large-format print can protect the visual identity of historic landmarks during renovation.
By using solid PVC material for maximum opacity and printing at high resolution, Project Print Management delivered a solution that fully concealed scaffold while maintaining architectural presence.
For public venues, cultural institutions and heritage properties, building wrap installation is an effective way to balance conservation needs with visitor expectations.
If you are planning renovation works and want to maintain a professional, visually cohesive exterior, our experienced team can manage every stage — from design and print through to installation — ensuring the result is delivered right first time.
For more information on building wrap installation please contact us or visit more blog page for our latest print projects.
