53 Great Suffolk Street was built around 1890 and functioned as a blacksmith and meat factory before being repurposed into office space. The building was extensively renovated and expanded, which greatly increased the amount of available floor space. A new matching bay was put in place of the single-story section, and a new floor was added onto the roof. The designers carefully selected natural materials to create a unique workspace that would complement the building’s existing, raw character. Workers have access to a shared rooftop terrace, which is ideal for hosting outside events and offers exceptional views of the nearby listed warehouse building and the Shard.
By preserving and expanding the warehouse, the building retains the street’s historical significance and enhances social and cultural development in the area. The Great Suffolk Street was also improved by the development, with expanded sidewalks, more green spaces, and new street furniture, like a high-quality public footpath made of paving stones.
The project was awarded several accolades, including the RIBA National Award 2018 winner and BREEAM Excellent.
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.
The mixed use development comprises two office buildings totalling 530,000ft² of high quality office accommodation together with a 162 unit residential scheme consisting of a 26 storey private apartment tower and affordable housing building. The scheme also includes retail units and a community arts facility. 10 Brock Street is the larger of the office buildings and Watkins Payne supplied building services engineering, vertical transportation engineering, BREEAM duties and energy consultancy to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and an EPC B rating.
Skyline development for SEGRO plc provides well-connected Grade A logistics, distribution and warehousing facilities as it is adjacent to Heathrow Airport and the immediate motorway and rail networks.