Comprising six levels of office space topped by two storeys of residential demise, 106-110 Kentish Town Road was in need of a transformation. The communal layout was very dated and a security risk with three entrances at different corners of the building.
Refurbishing the office space over the lower ground and ground floors would give the opportunity to rejuvenate the building’s access and security while allowing the design team to pay homage to its historical past as Dunn’s Hat Factory.
The refurbishment provides office space, along with the ground floor being granted A1 retail use. High-level exposed services were designed to give an industrial warehouse feel. The offices are heated and cooled by independent variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air source heat pump systems and illuminated by suspended linear LED fittings.
Dedicated office reception and lower ground break-out space have all been finished to high specification with feature LED lighting throughout. Services are exposed with electrical conduit finished in yellow to provide a splash of colour against the industrial style finishes. New shower and toilet facilities have been provided and the existing duplex lift installations have been refurbished.
The completed site now comprises four detached industrial warehouse units ranging from 14,000sq ft to 36,000sq ft, all with naturally ventilated and heated offices. The two larger units each have an 8 person MRL passenger lift, while the smaller units have been provided with platform lifts. The warehouse area was designed as a shell for future fit-out with capped off utility services.
BRIT Insurance took 5 floors of the Leadenhall building with views over Tower Bridge and the Thames. The 60,000ft² of high quality office accommodation was fitted out to Category B.
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Acting on behalf of Oxford Properties the practice has undertaken both decarbonisation and Cat A refurbishment within the circa 350,000ft2 office led building while maintaining full operation for existing tenants throughout.
Apex Tower located next to New Malden train station is a 15-story office development. At ground level an enlarged prestigious reception area is provided which leads to commuter facility with unisex showers and drying room. The refurbishment works is targeting BREEAM RFO ‘Very Good’ and achieved an Energy Performance Certification rating of ‘B’.
A wealth of experience in exposed services projects has enabled Watkins Payne to provide the highest level specification for the refurbishment of over 50,000ft² of office space at 101 New Cavendish Street in London.
