VISION

ISG Awarded £50 Million Low Carbon Marylebone Office Scheme

ISG has won a £50 million project to redevelop and refurbish Woolworth House in the heart of London’s West End. The mixed-use scheme, for General Projects with Henderson Park, will increase the building’s gross area by circa 100,000 sq ft. to over 236,000 sq ft, offering 172,000 sq ft. of lettable space and increase floor areas by over 40%.

It includes the complete refurbishment of the existing eight-storey office building, located at 242 Marylebone Road in the London Borough of Westminster. Renamed Metropolis, the new building will benefit from both office and retail facilities, with external green roof terraces across every floor. An events auditorium, rooftop-bar, on-site coffee shop, cyclist zone as well as new health and wellbeing amenities complete the specification.

A new extension will significantly increase outdoor and green space, adding over 6,000 sq ft of new landscaped gardens. To achieve this, the scope of work includes infilling the existing courtyard area up to the seventh floor, providing tiered planted terraces and the structure will be extended with various additions across floors three to eight using a steel frame with cross laminated timber (CLT) slabs. In addition, the existing roof plant enclosures will be removed and consolidated, allowing the creation of rooftop office pavilions on level five and eight. Designed by London architect AHMM, the environmental performance of the refurbished building will be boosted to a BREEAM rating of Outstanding.

Careful retention of existing building material will result in over 4,500 tonnes of carbon saved during the construction process and diverted from landfill. The new scheme will also achieve industry leading Wired and AirRated scores. The use of engineered timber floors to all building extensions has dramatically reduced embodied carbon, equating to a 73% improvement against RIBA 2030 targets. The masonry facades, concrete frame and cores will also be retained while CLT will be used for all new floors forming the building’s extension.

Jim Knowlton, ISG project director, said: “Originally constructed in the 1950’s, Woolworth House is an exemplar of how a low carbon approach can transform our cities’ dated building stock. Underpinned by environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, the scheme shows how adapting assets into smarter office and retail environments, with more green spaces for occupants, can future proof London’s commercial property market.

“Following the successful completion of 66 Shoe Lane in 2020, Woolworth House is our second collaboration with Henderson Park. The project builds upon the success, expertise and shared learnings of the same delivery team, now applied to this trailblazing low carbon scheme.” www.isgplc.com

Warwickshire Architects Nominated for Regional Design Award

Michael Kendrick Architects, a Leamington Spa-based creative architecture studio, has been officially shortlisted for the 2022 RIBA West Midlands awards. Internationally regarded as a mark of design excellence, the RIBA awards recognises the best examples of modern architecture, both regionally and nationally. Nominated for its work on Mill Lodge house in Leamington Spa, Michael Kendrick Architects are among seven architectural teams which are on the shortlist for this year’s West Midlands category.

Situated within the Leamington Spa Conservation Area, Mill Lodge is one of three residential properties which have been shortlisted for the RIBA West Midlands category. A contemporary, one- bedroom dwelling, the property was originally commissioned by the client as a home for their elderly parents, which could enable them to live independently. In its design, the home provides a contemporary twist on the traditional coach houses found within the town and notably uses a combination of both traditional and contemporary materials and construction detailing.

Occupying a plot of just 160 sq.m., the Mill Lodge project is additionally noted for its innovative use of space and seamless integration into the surrounding, residential area. Company founder, Michael Kendrick, said of the news: “All of us at Michael Kendrick Architects are delighted to be shortlisted for this year’s RIBA West Midlands awards. Mill Lodge is a project which exemplifies everything that we as a company stand for: it is contemporary in its design, whilst still being respectful to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the past; it is sustainably made, and it is thoughtful in the way it navigates the space and the challenges its presents."

“From raising the ground floor to allow for flood risk, to using a generous amount of glazing to maximise interior lighting, the work that we carried out at Mill Lodge testifies to how effective simple, well-crafted buildings and sustainable building methods are. There is little in the way of choice when it comes to homes for senior folk and the options that do exist often lack style or character." www.michaelkendrick.co.uk

James Jones & Sons Wins RIAS Award For New Visitor Building

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced eight exceptional buildings as winners of Scotland’s national architecture awards. The James Jones & Sons Lockerbie site is the largest single site sawmill complex in the UK and the most technically advanced.

As such, Lockerbie receives a high number of visitors – including small groups of customer visits, customer training courses, academic institutions, and industry events. The idea for the building recognised the need to provide increased office accommodation, better visitor facilities, and the opportunity to host on-site training courses and industry meetings, which previously had to be conducted offsite.

James Jones & Sons held a design competition between two architectural firms and the winning team was Konishi Gaffney from Edinburgh, led by Kieran Gaffney. Konishi Gaffney did not have to look far for materials for the new offices and visitor centre at the UK’s largest sawmill: the building acts as a demonstration project, almost entirely erected from James Jones’s own products, with an approach to minimising the use of steel and maximising timber. This ode to sustainable timber construction showcases the company’s ambition as well as its operations; presenting a flagship for Scotland’s timber industry. The winners of the RIAS Awards will now become the ‘longlist’ for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award – one of the most significant architecture prizes in the world – which will be announced in November. Recipients of the 2022 RIAS Awards are also eligible for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards.

Drawn from all across Scotland, the winners of the RIAS Awards 2022 include a new secondary school that places students’ mental health and well-being at the heart of its design, the rescue and restoration of an iconic Modernist house, and an exquisite rural office building on the edge of the Balmoral Estate.

RIAS president Christina Gaiger PRIAS said: “This year’s awards show how Scottish architects are rising up to today’s challenges – from the climate emergency to the nation’s mental health – and prove the fundamental role that architecture plays in society.” The jury for the 2022 RIAS Awards were Murray Kerr (founder, Denizen Works), Christina Gaiger PRIAS (President, RIAS), Audrey Carlin (CEO, Wasps Studios) and Tony Chapman (former head of awards, RIBA).

In addition to this latest award, the Lockerbie visitor building has also won the 2021 EAA Wood for Good Award and two Scottish Design Awards winning both the Architecture award for a ‘Commercial / Office / Hotel Building or Project’ and the overall ‘Architecture Grand Prix’ award. Speaking about the awards, Rob MacKenna, General Manager at James Jones Lockerbie site said “We are delighted with the recognition the new building has received. "

"The striking design and innovative use of solid and engineered timber products are a great example of how timber can be used to deliver high quality office and meeting areas. Konishi Gaffney architects were able to articulate this in the building’s design and its fantastic their efforts, and those of the project team, have been recognised”. www.jamesjones.co.uk

£5.4M Museum Extension Housing Iconic WW2 Plane Celebrated

Thousands of visitors have now visited the £5.4 million extension to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, which now houses an original Spitfire aircraft thanks to specialist project management from national property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard.

The project comprised the design and construction of a new 3,800 square foot, double height exhibition space with mezzanine and the alteration and refurbishment of the existing café space within the art gallery and museum, alongside extensive external landscaping. Utilising a steel frame and rainscreen cladding, the new exhibition space has been designed with specialist structural glazing to allow the main attraction, the city’s iconic RW388 Spitfire Aircraft, to be exhibited.

The area also houses a flight simulator, model Hurricane aircraft and other exhibitions. Seeking an expedited project process to ensure scheduled delivery, Pick Everard – operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration – was appointed as Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s multi-disciplinary construction consultant through SCAPE’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework.

Stoke-on-Trent is internationally renowned for its ceramics. The area has a history of coal mining, so specialist geotechnical design input was critical. In conjunction with the Coal Authority, an approach was agreed to backfill existing mine workings beneath the proposed building, which allowed construction to proceed.

Matt Hall, national director for project management at Pick Everard said: “We are delighted to have delivered such a historically significant development, which creates a lasting legacy for the city of Stoke-onTrent. Our expertise, combined with that from tourism and leisure architect Glancy Nicholls, has created a spectacular display space for the iconic Spitfire – a centrepiece the city can be proud of.”

The new spaces, constructed by Morgan Sindall Construction, allow the exhibition space to be enjoyed by people both inside and outside of the Potteries Art Gallery and Museum.

Cllr Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for infrastructure, regeneration and heritage, said: “We are really happy with the outcome of this project. Not only have we managed to pay homage to one of Stoke-on-Trent’s true icons – Reginald J. Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire plane – but we have also improved the aesthetics and accessibility for those walking to and around the site, through our new pedestrian links. The site will add tangible value and energise the community, providing them with a new landmark the city can be proud of.” www.pickeverard.co.uk

Photo credit: Ed Reeve

RecordBreaking Design and Build Project In The UK

Originally built in the 80’s, One Portsoken Street is 233,000 sq ft of premium office space for a range of tenants; located on the edge of the City of London, the iconic brutalist building is connected to both London’s financial sector and creative industries.

The UK’s largest design and build project is recently completed and now ready for occupation. Leading office design and build company, Oktra, have delivered the record-breaking project, redefining the boundaries of design and build by gutting the nine-storey building and filling what was once one of the largest atriums in Europe. The interior optimisation has led to a 20% increase in lettable space.

“We’ve fused the defining characteristics of design and build with comparatively traditional delivery and management processes in order to deliver the largest project in UK design and build history,” explains Craig Smith, Oktra’s Chief Development Officer.

“The result is a redefinition of what’s possible in design and build: One Portsoken is a ground-breaking project for Oktra and for the London design and build market. It’s a great thing to be involved in.” The refurbishment includes restoration of One Portsoken’s original design elements in order to preserve the building’s history, with all modern finishes kept neutral in order to complement the design. Standout elements include circular turrets, exposed concrete, terracotta floor tiles, exposed steel beams and sweeping London views from the top floor featuring the original atrium’s glass ceiling. One Portsoken Street is in the process of achieving a ‘Very Good’ rating from BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method. 100% of site waste was diverted from landfill; 99.35% of waste was recycled, while the other 0.65% was incinerated to produce energy.

These recycling efforts reduced the project’s carbon emissions by 73%. The new One Portsoken features a lively public ground floor and landscaped open space. Floorplate sizes range from 10,000 to 30,000 sq ft and are designed to accommodate up to three separate tenants.

The building features impressive ceiling heights ranging from 4-10 metres and improved destination control with nine new lifts and a striking lobby space with a twoand-a-half-storey atrium. www.oktra.co.uk