61 Whitehall is the long term home since 1895 of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) that needed a complete refurbishment and upgrade to suit its current day needs and operational requirements. The works to the Grade II* listed building included the addition of a new floor, fully refreshed library and function rooms, plus creation of a south facing dome that will be used for multiple different events using electrochromic glazing.
The MEP services were all replaced with a focus on energy efficiency using air source heat pumps, LED lighting and natural ventilation where possible. The services were designed to suit the bespoke fit out requirements of RUSI all integrated into the architectural features within the listed building.
Watkins Payne reviewed a number of mechanical and electrical options with the team, focusing on retention of key central plant, overhaul and replacement of plant where required, and LED lighting to reduce energy and improve the office environment.
The carbon neutral status was achieved by exemplary as-built air tightness facade solar and thermal performance significantly in excess of the Building Regulations requirements, highly energy efficient M&E systems, LED lighting and photovoltaic panel arrays on the roof of the warehouse.
The office building is targeting Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A.
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.
Sustainability is incredibly important for the Client and as such the building is BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL ‘enabled’ Gold, alongside WiredScore Platinum. In addition, the Design for Performance approach is been adopted in order to minimise operational energy and hence carbon emissions.
Client
Gross Internal Floor Area
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.