Derelict Bracknell Car Park 5 - what happened to it?

[@peterjszerszen]

I love old car parks and ones that serve a different purpose than for what they were intended. I live near Pontiac, Michigan where there's a huge multi-story car park that was one of the few parts actually built of what was to be an entirely futurist city downtown rebuilt from scratch with all of the buildings up on platforms, pedestrian plazas at ground level and car and truck traffic in levels below ground. More than half of the historic downtown was leveled in anticipation of this plan and a surface "loop" highway circumscribing the city center was built which was to handle traffic coming from other places. Essentially the entire downtown was to be one massive building where everyone lived and worked with everything connected underground but separated into distinct buildings above grade level. This was the 1970s. In 1980, a portion of the "podium" (multi-story car park) was built along with two office mid-rises and a senior (pensioner) living mid-rise. The podium was topped with an amphitheater and civic space as this was to be the "plaza" level. And that was it. A recession in 1981 killed the rest of it and it never was finished. Today there are massive stairs leading from the true ground level up to the "plaza" level. None of it makes sense. And yet almost the exact same thing happened just a few miles south in Bloomfield, Michigan during the financial crisis. It wasn't going to be a platform city but multiple 10-floor car parks were built before the rest of it failed. Eventually they were all blown up after never being used (lifts and all) except for one and the land became a big box home improvement store and car park.

[@glenbrucecostello4464]

Lived in Bracknell most of my life moved here at 3 , 50 now and i have never stepped foot in this car park , even though its always been there , my mate and i refer to it as the ..."Left For Dead " car park due to some graffiti painted on it back in the 80s , if anyone remember s that?. Like others i thought it was abandoned to the vandals and sky rats , nice video.

[@BritishRailwaysandSirens]

I honestly thought it was totally abandoned until I saw some cars moving a few months ago. Bit of nostalgia from those old photos featuring the 3M building.

[@TonyBanks21]

Normally a lot of these,abandoned structures are “written off” by the local community,and end up being demolished. Refurbishment and reuse,is really an exception to the rule-as has happened here !!

[@urgentkestrel7990]

What is upbeat music that was used for this video?

[@bigships]

So which car parks were numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 or have they been torn down

[@TonyVRailfanning]

Watching from Canada it always amazes me how places across the big pond leave things in such derelict condition for so many years. Here there simply is no tolerance for that. Elevators are a must in any building over 3 stories.

[@carolinenewbury9132]

parked there for 11 years when I worked at 3M, wonder if they are using the 3M Social Club that was under the car park?

[@Lift.Tracker]

Excellent video! I’m in Bracknell regularly and decided to take a look at this car park a while back. I was quite confused when I saw part 1 after seeing that it was all new looking inside through the window. I thought for a moment that it was just a different car park with identical architecture. Just goes to show what a good job they did tidying it up. You would’ve never known what state it had been left in previously. Part 1 still looked better than your average NCP car park though lol!

[@SAMIEWALLFORD756]

Omg!!.. That's awesome video! I was being seen in the parts of the years ago. Old video those derelict elevators in the carpark. Second time revisit, third time is no longer exist create plans upgraded or refurbishment it is. Now, I was seeing that it was all brand new looking inside through the window. I thought blocked of the windows. At the moment that it was just a different car park with identical architecture made it! Now, these... What expects of those brand new elevators we'll see it is. Just goes to show what a good job they did tidying things it up. You would’ve never known what state it had been left in previously. it is! Excellent video, buddy! Wow, what a start it is! :)

[@ow3nc]

They've now made the car park private (security gates before the entrance to the lifts)..... so yes, I guess it is for those new apartments. (and yes, I went to visit, while I was driving back home from Gatwick airport last week. :))

[@idl3k_elev]

Wow, now this is something I didn't expect! At least the car park gets a new life and saved from the wrecking balls, but still I missed when it was derelict. That must've been a LOT of work cleaning the lift machine room from that pile of "spongy" pigeon poos XD

[@leewakefield8658]

I wonder if the new lifts are 100% new or if any parts of the originals were salvaged such as guide rails and car chassis?

[@Lift.Tracker]

Probably a full replacement judging by the state they were in. It’s certainly possible that some parts were reused though.

[@the_alex_ellis_channel6923]

I don't think any of it would have been useable.

[@bigships]

@@Lift.Tracker guide rails most likely. the counterweight and chassis might be original

[@PainElemental]

the hungerford shooter wrote about shopping trips to bracknell in the 70s and 80s and he mentioned sitting in the car waiting for his mum at the top of the parking lot and observing the town in distance and liking the view

[@cebudave]

Interesting, I wonder if they will reopen the gentlemans club at the basement of the spiral down ramp?

[@MrVTEC555]

I find it funny that at 3:05, they've installed new LED light fittings, including the installation of cages, but not bothered to remove the graffiti. Obviously the Sparkies on the job were told to crack on and someone made a planning error. This is quite common to be honest, the amount of jobs I go to and deal with small planning errors like this is insane! Anyway, it's great to see the car park put back in use.

[@ow3nc]

I'm glad to see that the car park will still be used, as well as the lift shafts.... they've done a really good job cleaning all that filth up. Even if the old lift fixtures are gone, the building still helps you to remember what it used to be like. If the whole car park got demolished, it would be pretty tough to picture those old memories.

[@MichalM]

Very interesting to see that they didn't knock the car park down! Did they do all this work to it in the hope that the new flat residents would use it?

[@dwrowley]

Great video, the transformation was amazing

[@saimonsevcik]

They did a great work at refurbishing the tower and replacing the lifts, It still would be better if they installed a more efficient lifts

[@idl3k_elev]

It would've been better if they replaced the old lifts with KONE MonoSpace just like the Bracknell High Street Car Park or even Fitzwilliam House next door.

[@Petertronic]

They did an ok job restoring the place, it's never going to look great though is it?! Did that ladder on the top landing tempt you at all... ;-)

[@Ddiscontinued]

Please do a update on Lancaster forton services when you can I really enjoyed them videos and all your others video do (:

[@mrmattandmrchay]

I do actually go into there from time to time, but it's still the same as it was when I filmed it last. Although the old otis was out of order last two times I visited.

[@anatolklops]

Given the current lift upgrades, there is a good chance that both installed lifts are monolithic, so the machine room can be left in its original condition. I myself had the opportunity to see an old freight elevator with service that has been modernized and everything is new everywhere, but since the device itself is monolithic, above it there is an original engine room from 1953 with a complete cabinet, single-speed motor still has windings insulated with cotton instead of varnish, a winch with a cast body and everything else in original condition. The only thing that does not fit in this room is the lack of ropes and power cables that, instead of entering the oil line contactor, are directed to a modern plastic can from which they turn around and go back to the new control cabinet.

[@urgentkestrel7990]

Are the lifts MRL or just ordinary Traction ?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

They are MRL. Probably the old motor room was gutted.

[@JamesPetts]

One thing that I never understand is why modern lifts never have the windows that many older lifts have.

[@paulclapperton9866]

Totally with you on that one

[@SeanBZA]

Safety regulations, your glass has to be armoured, and very firmly secured, so, while the old units are grandfathered in, any glass replacement has to be done using safety glass, which has to be a heavy laminate glass, that is not possible to break, or wired glass, which has the same property. I had to do that to one cracked vision pane, so, ordering one pane, I simply included 2 more spare ones in the order, as the extra cost was negligible, compared to the wait for the special pig wire glass to arrive. Thus had 2 spare panes, which are easy to install, though the original screws did not want to play nice, so many got drilled out, and then replaced with pop rivets, to hold the frame back into the door. Bit of work with silicone instead of the original window putty, and a thin foam rubber cushion to replace the old bed with something more flexible, and the glass was held firm, but still able to flex with the door. Same reason you no longer get wooden doors, you can replace like for like, but have to go for metal on any upgrade where you change the door type. Still know of a trellis door lift around in the city, over 120 years old, also grandfathered in, and without automatic door closer.

[@samexahr3326]

Car Park 1. Not Built. Beside Car Park 2? (Atrium Court) Car Park 2. Bracken Walk/Charles Square Car Park Car Park 3. Princess Square? Car Park 4. Bentalls/High St Car Park Car Park 5. The one in this Video (Office Car Park) Car Park 6. Site of Waitrose Car Park (Office Car Park) Car Park 7. Site of Avenue Car Park (Broadway Car Park) PEEL Centre Car Park. Skimped Hill

[@Max-9632]

I wonder how hard they worked to get the lifts up and running again

[@dominikkarkowski]

Hahahah

[@abpsd73]

Great to see an old building has been refurbished and given another life instead of meeting a demolition crew.

[@EEverything360]

Whilst we'll all miss the old lifts, it has to be done. It only makes epic new Lexicon even more popular.

[@Jonjooooo]

They tried to get rid of it but it's too damn iconic. It's still owned by Comer Homes as far as I know so will probably be demolished and replaced with flats in the next decade.

[@nicks4934]

Why would anyone go to Bracknell 🤣

[@anniejones6598]

Should have used that ladder in the top floor to access the motor room ahaha

[@mrascensoreakakrisgames4149]

That was completely unexpected ngl, it doesn't even look like the same place as before (from the inside). Although, is a shame for the old lifts, yeah they where derelict and probably too far gone, but still... btw, the replacements are MRL?

[@SeanBZA]

Don't think so, still likely the same old cars, ropes and shaft, just a facelift inside, and new doors installed. Cheaper to buy, as your kit is a lot cheaper to ship from the manufacturer, as you do not need to have the extra weight of the gearboxes, just putting in new standard flange mount motors instead, and use the old gearboxes, as they likely did a crack test on the drive shaft before making the decision. Big saving as you still have the motor room with power and control, and rope wear is a lot lower, plus the old rope likely still has life left in it, which a MRL does not, those ropes wear out fast, especially with heavy use, as they do double the travel of the lift car. When my mother was in a home, they were upgrading the lifts, and put in the third one, which was a MRL, and then renovated the existing 2 to a more modern controller. MRL simply because the motor room had been built for the 2 existing ones only, but the shaft designed for 3 sets of track, and they did not want to have to extend the building on top, as that would have meant loss of income from the antenna farm on there. So, out with the old 50 year Schindlers, and in with new ones, using the old cars still. I did get spare parts for the Schindler at the old office, grease cups to replace worn ones, and a few spare relays out of the controller, as those do occasionally fail, and the replacement ones are not the same quality. New MRL as narrow, but still fitted a bed and nurses, very deep, just like the others, though those hold more people in addition to the bed, as they go in around 1m further. Not going to bet which will still be running in 20 years, the MRL winn not make it without a major overhaul. Where I stay people want a lift, 3 floors, but tend to balk at the prospect of the levy tripling to cover the maintenance alone, never mind the special levy to have it installed.

[@cjmillsnun]

@@SeanBZA I doubt it. The lifts had been derelict for 2 decades or more. Had they been out of use but checked I would've agreed with you, but pigeon crap is corrosive and would've been all over the motor, sheave and ropes. The cars may have been recoverable, but again the rails had been left for 20 years without maintenance. I suspect the whole kit is new.

[@TaylaHolland]

I always love it when you post!

[@Mitch-Hendren]

I've been missing your vids so checked all my subscription list .. at least 9 of them I've mysteriously been unsubscribed from. Not by me i hasten to Add... Anyway ive subscribed again ☺️ so I've some catching up to do. Lovely building btw i love brutalist concrete buildings. A child of the seventies 😉

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Not sure why that happened, but thanks very much for subbing back to me :) Me too, reminds me of the buildings that were around in my childhood also - I was a kid of the eighties!

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

There is a duplicate of this car park at Grand Rapids Michigan airport.

[@bluemarvel]

To be honest I would have never thought it would be possible to save it 😅

[@Colaholiker]

I was about to comment the same. It blows my mind to see that they actually did all this

[@binified]

bro i literally drive past this every day

[@ElevatorsClips]

I did a lot of very noisy elevators videos 😅

[@vancouverelevators_transit]

Wow they did a good job

[@BarkesK.18]

The car park might be haunted because apparently a homeless man died in there

[@dykodesigns]

They did a nice job of restoring the building. It’s not something you would expect, I quite like that they choose to give the building a new leash of life. I wonder how they cleaned that motorroom, I can only imagine it beeing a dirty job not many people would want to do.

[@AdolfZachrisson]

NOOOOO lifts been modernised! but i actully see that as a good thing thogh(i did defentityve spell that wrong).😀

[@DanielMeakin1]

Brilliant video ive been waiting for part 2. There is a lift In boots in Aylesbury wich is interesting if it's not replaced

[@HappyChaki-zh5zw]

I like

[@cjmillsnun]

I'm pleased it has been brought back into use. Yes it's a shame that the relay logic lifts are no more, but in reality they were history before the pigeons made their home there.

[@HenFilmStudio]

THIS IS THE SAME BUILDING!?

[@Mrkon-wr3ci]

ฉันรักช่องนี้

[@rjm1764]

It's good to see that the car park has been given a new lease of life. Even if it was still in daily use, no doubt the old lifts would have been replaced long ago.

[@Lift.Tracker]

Yes, you’re probably right. Especially since it’s Bracknell. The council seem allergic to anything old lol! It’s quite nice to have everything surrounding you brand new, but it gives the place a sort of ‘disposable and temporary city’ feel.

[@ZZ9ProductionsOFFICIAL]

oh my, i didn't expect this! they did a great job with restoring it! Personally not the biggest fan of those new lifts (i've seen Curti ones before in vids that are slow as anything, luckily they've gone for a somewhat more proper spec MRL there), but they needed them and they do the job they're there for so that is good. There's always the "if only the old lifts could have lived on", but realistically that was impossible for many reasons. I do wonder if the motor room is also clean now having been needed to be accessed to remove the old mechanical equipment

[@leewakefield8658]

If the new lifts are MRL then perhaps all the old equipment is still up there as no real need to remove it other than perhaps sell it for scrap metal.

[@dominikkarkowski]

I would want to see the motor room anyways now.

[@alfonsgamingtornadosirenfan]

Oh my goodness that looks like the car park in Camberley like 39 years later there siren K was but nice video!

[@MrSpacelyy]

They had to clean all that poo and dirt.

[@hassandaniela]

Modernised 😕

[@keith800]

In a way its nice to see it given a new lease of life , and hats off to the workers and lift men who had the un enviable job of making a lovely job of it , just hope the building is kept secure and clean after all their good work and is not let go to be infested by homeless druggies , alcoholics and graffiti merchants

[@saimonsevcik]

Hi

[@mrmattandmrchay]

hello :)

[@ElevatorsClips]

Hey

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Hey, how are you doing?

[@ElevatorsClips]

I'm watching your videos :)

[@peteszerszen4337]

I love old car parks and ones that serve a different purpose than for what they were intended. I live near Pontiac, Michigan where there's a huge multi-story car park that was one of the few parts actually built of what was to be an entirely futurist city downtown rebuilt from scratch with all of the buildings up on platforms, pedestrian plazas at ground level and car and truck traffic in levels below ground. More than half of the historic downtown was leveled in anticipation of this plan and a surface "loop" highway circumscribing the city center was built which was to handle traffic coming from other places. Essentially the entire downtown was to be one massive building where everyone lived and worked with everything connected underground but separated into distinct buildings above grade level. This was the 1970s. In 1980, a portion of the "podium" (multi-story car park) was built along with two office mid-rises and a senior (pensioner) living mid-rise. The podium was topped with an amphitheater and civic space as this was to be the "plaza" level. And that was it. A recession in 1981 killed the rest of it and it never was finished. Today there are massive stairs leading from the true ground level up to the "plaza" level. None of it makes sense. And yet almost the exact same thing happened just a few miles south in Bloomfield, Michigan during the financial crisis. It wasn't going to be a platform city but multiple 10-floor car parks were built before the rest of it failed. Eventually they were all blown up after never being used (lifts and all) except for one and the land became a big box home improvement store and car park.