Watts was commissioned to administer the building contract of the Ontario Tower, a 30-storey landmark building sited alongside the River Thames. The tower is linked to the new four-star, deluxe, nine-storey Radisson hotel, which offers 169 rooms with restaurant, spa and swimming pool facilities shared with the tower occupants. The tower is London's tallest riverside residential building and features a distinctive sloping roof. The triple height, glass atrium linking the tower and hotel is complemented by water features and extensive landscaping, which blends with the riverside boardwalk.
Watts’ brief was to administer the building contract and to monitor the contractor's delivery of design, package procurement and construction. Watts liaised with hotel operator Radisson throughout the delivery process, to facilitate the successful opening of the hotel in September 2007. Watts also acted as monitoring surveyor under the terms of the funding agreement, providing initial due diligence advice and subsequent monitoring through to completion.
The southbound Blackwall tunnel passes directly under the hotel, which requires innovative design to enable the structure to span the tunnel. The development recently gained an Institute of Civil Engineers merit award for Excellency in this respect.