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Refurbished / Recycled Workplace

 

Winner National & London
EMI HQ, 27 Wright's Lane, London

Buildings should reflect their occupiers, and the EMI HQ in London's Kensington certainly does that. MoreySmith has transformed a tired 1980s building into a riot of colour, light and music.

EMI wanted to escape the limitations of cellular layouts and MoreySmith has cleverly produced a building that appears to be entirely open plan, yet 40% is still cellular.

The entrance was moved to create a five-storey curved glass showcase. And a dirty, neglected courtyard has been roofed and reclad in white glazed brick to become the beating heart of the building.

IT plays a huge role. LEDs buried in reception counters turn them into colour-changing light boxes and a 2.6m LED screen in reception plays music videos visible from the street.

But EMI also has a strong green ethic and much of the fabric is reclaimed material, while extra daylight has cut energy demands.

EMI is delighted with the way new communal areas have brought people together. Every café table is full at lunchtime, and breakout lounges are heavily used. Sounds of life, chatter and the occasional live band all add to the buzz.

Winner Scotland
80 George Street, Edinburgh

80 George Street, deep in the heart of historic Edinburgh, had lost much of architect JJ Burnett's Baroque style from the early 20th century. But that didn't deter owners Salmon Harvester and NFU Mutual. The result is a good example of how to fit modern space behind a historic façade - even if that façade must be recreated. Hugh Martin Partnership searched the archives to restore the elevation from Burnett's original drawings and the original curved glass and timber shop-frontage designs were restored enabling a spectacular double-height foyer and lobby to be created.

Winner North of England, North Wales & Northern Ireland
Bass Warehouse, Eastgate, Castlefield

This 1840s former iron works and warehouse shows bravery. It could easily have been demolished, destroying the canal side view, but has been refurbished into a modern business space without sacrificing elements of its history. Extra space was found by excavating the basement and lowering the ground outside, linking reception with the café and meeting room located on the lower floor. And remnants of old machinery and exposed structure maintain a spirit of the 19th century, bathed in a new light.

Winner South of England & South Wales
Beaufort Court Zero Emissions Building, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire

This is the first carbon-neutral, zero-emission refurbished commercial office building, with half the energy needs of a conventional space and is a working advert for RES, which designs wind turbines, photovoltaics, biomass heating and acquifer cooling. This is a historic site deep in the green belt, but Studio E made no attempt to reproduce the Arts and Crafts style. RES appreciates the variety of old and new building which allows for conferences and exhibitions and can still produce extra space for staff who previously worked from home.

Commended Vodafone Fountain House, Horizon West Business Park, Newbury

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