Watkins Payne carried out the Independent Design Reviewer role for Block A at The Soapworks development, comprising two new buildings alongside the restoration of the Grade II-listed former soap factory in Bristol. The Block A development works consists of a new build office over ground to fifth floor with the option for retail units at lower ground level.
A formal review was conducted at Stage 4 with the design successfully achieving a Design Reviewed Target Rating of 5.0 Stars.
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.
Situated just a stone’s throw away from Watford Junction station, the Egale 2 building has been tastefully renovated into a multi-tenanted office environment, with a floor by floor split for tenancies providing a total of 11,000sqft of office space over four floors.
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 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.
Quay Place in Birmingham is situated next to the Utilita Arena which is a sport, exhibition and a concert venue. The works consisted of a new structure to contain the main reception, meeting room, changing facilities and a café for the site.
Multistory (formerly 2 Colmore Square and Cannon House) is setting the new benchwork for Sustainability, targeting WiredScore Platinum, Fitwel 2 star and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of ‘B’.