The Practice was responsible for designing the complete refurbishment of the mechanical, electrical and public health services to all of the guest rooms, together with the penthouse units. The project also included the provision of services to new conference rooms and a fully integrated health suite. As an integral part of the refurbishment the major central plant items comprising transformers, switchgear, chilled water plant, heating plant, cold water storage and hot water generating plant were replaced. The technical challenges were extenisve as the hotel remained in operation throughout the works.
Sustainability initiatives include LED lighting with occupancy detection and daylight dimming controls, solar thermal hot water heating, air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels, resulting in an EPC rating of A and a Very Good rating under BREEAM New Construction (Industrial) 2014.
The project also involved the refurbishment of the reception space and improvement of the cycle store entrance and wayfinding at basement level.
Watkins Payne carried out the Independent Design Review role for 2 Aldermanbury Square, a redevelopment of the existing City Place House located at 55 Basinghall Street.
A Grade II Listed Building in the St James’s conservation area, 8 Waterloo Place has been refurbished to offer 22,500ft² of high quality office accommodation and 8,700ft² of restaurant shell unit, for which Watkins Payne supplied building services engineering, BREEAM duties and energy consultancy to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and an EPC B rating.
