Refurbished / Recycled Workplace
National Winner / Regional Winner South of England (Outside M25 and South Wales)
The Hub, Farnborough Business Park
Project Client:
Slough Estates
Owner:
Slough Estates
Project Manager:
Slough Estates International
Quantity Surveyor:
Gardiner & Theobald
Architect:
Allies and Morrison
M&E Engineer:
Foreman Roberts
Structural Engineer:
WSP (London)
Contractor:
Carillion (Farnborough)
Developer:
Slough Estates International
This is a brave, if somewhat obvious, refurbishment of a pre-War, steel-framed, aeronautical-weapons research building to provide offices, cafe/bar and heritage centre. The decision to renovate as a focal point for the proposed business park rather than demolish has been a coup for SEGRO, but generated significant challenges, such as fitting air conditioning, clearly well executed: simple but not cheap, with a clever, if generous, exposed fan coil arrangement in each structural bay. The open plan office floors were some of the best the judges saw this year in terms of plan depth/height and daylighting provision, although they felt these were disappointing when divided for smaller occupational lettings.
At ground level the restaurant and museum are open to the community and many local companies use the large meeting rooms. Remodeled cores that include two new lifts give all the facilities of a modern building. Floors have been cut out to create a lobby/atrium and expose the art deco staircase.
Retaining the structure and replacing Crittal windows with modern sympathetic equivalents has retained the feel of the building, while replacing the roof lantern and use of the 'Farnborough' lettering to the brick cap protected the historic nature. Two new fire escape towers further enhance the external feel. This, along with excellent hard landscaping, means the building is comfortable in its setting. It is let down, however, by new multi-storey parking which could have been built in a previous era and detracts from the fabulous landscaping.
The scheme proves that it is possible to make good use of such buildings even in 'tough' off-centre locations and that bright, vibrant space can be created in the most challenging buildings. If The Hub was located in one of the more fashionable London areas such as Clerkenwell or Shoreditch, it would be instantly full of designers, advertisers and new media start-ups.
SEGRO is creating a style to suit a new kind of work culture, competing with new-build parks. The Hub forms a solid anchor to the business park and a much needed variety of offices essential for start-up and growing businesses to complement the two adjacent, more formally appointed buildings.
Regional Winner Refurbished/Recycled Workplace London
38 Finsbury Square
Project Client:
Henderson Central London
Office Fund
Owner:
Henderson Central London
Office Fund
Project Manager:
GVA Grimley
Quantity Surveyor:
Rider Hunt
Architect:
Gaunt Francis
Interior Designer:
Gaunt Francis
M&E Engineer:
Long & Partners
Structural Engineer:
Pell Frischmann
Contractor:
Skanska Kontor
This a classic tale of the ugly duckling turned into a swan. It involved rebranding a Nineties building with a new identity - and new address - to reposition it in the market by moving the entrance from Wilson Street onto the prestigious Finsbury Square.
The team faced the challenge of an extremely tight budget to achieve not only a very good BREEAM rating but delivering good, clear floor plates so that the property could be marketed as one building or separate floors.
The offices were simply designed with new floors and ceilings and are virtually column free with good aspects onto Finsbury Square. Mock- ups were used during construction to ensure the best designs. Major surgery on the entrance and a 'massaged' core have created a modern and reinvigorated space in what must have been hard to market. With space being released onto the market as rents are rising, this will be a valuable building
Regional Winner Refurbished/Recycled Workplace The Midlands and East Anglia
Baskerville House, Birmingham
Project Client:
Targetfollow Estates
Owner:
Targetfollow Estates
Project Manager:
Mace
Quantity Surveyor:
MDA
Architect:
Rolfe Judd
M&E Engineer:
Hoare Lea
Structural Engineer:
Buro Happold
Contractor:
AMCP SES JV
Investment/Property Company:
Targetfollow
Developer:
Targetfollow
An 'immensely challenging' but successful project, according to the regional judging panel. A 1930s public building was purchased for conversion into a hotel but the developer had subsequently to change tack. The finished product has some limitations that disappointed the national judges but won its regional award because it does substantially overcome many challenges and provides an exceptional quality of accommodation both within the work areas and the facilities.
The choice of a mixed-mode ventilation system, including chilled beam and chilled ceilings coupled with displacement ventilation, led to a very good BREEAM rating and high levels of air distribution. This was both refreshing and welcome as a solution which could very easily have been disregarded for a more conventional route.
Restoration of the building has been carried out very sympathetically. The attention to detail on lift fronts and the extended handrail to the new office floor were felt to be exemplary. The overall conclusion of the regional judges was that, given the constraints, Baskerville House has been a very fine achievement and an excellent example of how refurbishment can add enormous value to both a building and its setting.
Regional Winner Refurbished/Recycled Workplace North of England, North Wales and
Northern Ireland
freetrade exchange, Manchester
Project Client:
Property Alliance Group
Owner:
Property Alliance Group
Brief Consultant:
AEW Architects
Architect:
AEW Architects
Interior Designer:
Sheppard Robson
M&E Engineer:
Parker Wilson
Structural Engineer:
Deakin Walton
Contractor:
Russells Construction
Developer:
Property Alliance Group
Like many former warehouses, the freetrade exchange had evolved into offices over the years. The problem was that, although listed, the buildings were tired and rundown. Renovation has set a good example of how this kind of property, common across most of the country's former industrial cities, can be brought back to commercial use working with the grain of the building.
The sensitive approach has created excellent new workplaces where the building fabric genuinely contributes to the quality of the workplace. The difficult problem in handling public circulation has been used to the benefit of the interior design. Respect for the fabric of the building has allowed the creation of elegant spaces with high vaulted ceilings, large windows with high sills creating a very special quality and culture.
Regional Winner Refurbished/Recycled Workplace Scotland
HBOS, The Mound, Edinburgh
Project Client:
HBOS
Owner:
HBOS
Project Manager:
Faithful+Gould
Quantity Surveyor:
David Adamson & Partners
Architect:
Malcolm Fraser Architects
M&E Engineer (Service):
Harley Haddow Partnership
Structural Engineer:
SKM Anthony Hunt
Contractor:
Sir Robert McAlpine
The symbolic importance of this project cannot be over-emphasised. Following the merger of Bank of Scotland with Halifax Building Society, the brief was to create a stunning and practical headquarters showing commitment that HBOS would be permanently based in Edinburgh. Although the design team enjoyed a generous budget, the client achieved excellent value.
HBOS is congratulated for selecting Malcolm Fraser Architects, more associated with contemporary design than the restoration of historic buildings. The judges felt the project was an imaginative re-working of a landmark building, combining sensitive restoration with bold intervention. Opening up the original banking hall to create function space was particularly impressive. There is no attempt at pastiche, but a restrained interior design coupled with modern lighting enhances the space.
The scheme was not afraid to re-invent and accommodate traditional sobriety. It restored qualities lost in previous conversions, and poor service alterations accumulated over the years were dismantled. A double lift serving all floors replaced seven which had randomly linked parts of the building. Open plan offices on the upper floors have cable distribution but the whole building is covered by a wireless network.
There was no BREEAM certificate but a CIBSE good practice benchmark has been completed. Ground source heat pumps assist heating and cooling, helping halve the previous energy consumption.
