Watkins Payne provided MEP systems and IT cabling design services for the fit-out of 186,000ft² of commercial offices in the eight storey 1 Forbury Place in Reading, which formed the focus of SSE Services plc’s relocation strategy to consolidate several buildings from across southern England and accommodate 1,500 employees in a single location.
The Cat B fit-out design supports agile working, collaboration and connectivity, optimising employee and visitor comfort. Facilities include a café with catering facilities on the ground floor, main and secondary plant equipment rooms, a sixth floor conference and meeting rooms suite, and agile open plan office areas on other floors consisting of collaboration spaces, meeting pods and booths with VC facilities.
The majority of the base build MEP systems were retained, adapted and modified with flexibility in mind, to ‘future proof’ and support the Client’s needs.
The base build air conditioning, which is provided by electric VRF systems was modified to suit the fit-out. A standby generator was installed for resilience, and a fully networked CCTV and security access control system was provided to meet the Client’s operational requirements.
The Practice also assisted the Client in the initial due diligence exercise as part of the lease negotiations.
The Grade II listed 21 St James’ Square building has been refurbished to offer 89,000ft² of high quality office accommodation, for which Watkins Payne supplied building services engineering, vertical transportation engineering, energy consultancy to achieve an BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and EPC B rating.
The Adventure Park covers 1.2 acres and is created using sustainably-sourced wood from the Windsor Estate, providing an extensive playground for families to explore together.
The Holiday Inn Hotel in Shepperton has undergone a major refurbishment.
Designed by Foster Associates in the late 1970s, the Tetris A40 industrial and logistics distribution building in Greenford contains elements that are now listed due to their architectural and design value.
Located to the east of Carnaby Street and part of the Shaftesbury portfolio, 57 Broadwick Street has undergone an extensive refurbishment of the office and retail podium area to provide new shell restaurant and retail units, two new apartments on the fourth floor, and 20,445sq.ft office accommodation on first, second, third and part fourth floors.
Watkins Payne was involved with the Fetter Yard project on 86 Fetter Lane for 5 years and provided the MEP services design and BREEAM assessment.