Designed by John Robertson Architects (JRA), this major refurbishment of the former Daily Mail HQ saw two upper floors extended and the addition of three landscaped roof terraces. The Northcliffe’s semi-industrial aesthetic was maintained throughout, with exposed steel frame elements and semi-exposed ceilings.
Set across seven storeys, the workspace covers approximately 200,000 sq ft, with terraces totalling 9,800 sq ft, all designed with sustainability at the forefront. The design focused on keeping as many of the key original structural elements as possible, retaining the existing super structure, the foundations and the Grade II-listed façade to minimise embodied carbon.
The main entrance, originally located to the corner of the building, is now centrally positioned and remodelled to incorporate a café, breakout areas, library, meeting room, and an internal access to a retail unit that opens onto Tudor Street.
The listed 1925 façade exudes the charm of a pre-war department store with its embedded cast steel frame and Crittal-steel windows. Elsewhere, the fifth floor’s original octagonal turret has been repurposed, offering tenants a flexible amenity space that leads onto a landscaped roof terrace.
Waterman worked on this building back in the 90s, and this historic knowledge was key to the success of the latest development. Drawing upon this detailed understanding of the building’s fabric, our structures specialists were able to quickly identify the design parameters and provide innovative and cost-effective solutions for the new extensions and adaptations.
Our design focussed on adding minimal strengthening to the 1990s steel frame, whilst making several other sensitive structural interventions, including vertical extensions and modified floorplates with circulation routes centred around a reimagined atrium space.
The scheme was delivered as WELL ‘Ready’ and achieved a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating. Incorporating simultaneous heating and cooling through air source heat pumps, enhanced wall and roof insulation, and new PV panels at roof level, the scheme won ‘Best Refurbishment & Fit-out Project’ at the 2024 BREEAM Awards.
Images Courtesy of GG Archard
