The redevelopment will substantially upgrade the existing eight storey building, originally designed by MacCormac Jamieson & Pritchard in 2002. The comprehensive refurbishment and targeted interventions, that include a full reconfiguration of the ground floor, will extend the operational life of this 18-year-old building and transform it to meet today’s expectations for flexible and adaptable office spaces, with the aim of achieving a ‘platinum’ WiredScore rating.
Working alongside Fletcher Priest Architects, Stanhope and Mace, our multidiscipline team is providing mechanical and electrical, structural and sustainability services to sensitively update the building. The entire ground floor is being significantly improved to provide an attractive frontage, offering a mix of retail uses with the main office entrance from Paternoster Square remodelled to provide a generous and welcoming space.
With a focus on improved wellness central to the redevelopment’s ethos, the scheme includes the creation of improved access to the new cycle and shower facilities on the lower ground floor and basement levels. Designed to maximise the uptake of active travel methods, the proposals provide 210 cycle spaces along with ample changing facilities. In a further boost to wellness, Warwick Court’s occupants will benefit from increased external amenity space, with two high quality terraces at levels six and eight offering expansive views of St Paul’s Cathedral. Coupled with the upgrade of the existing external spaces at levels four and five, the building will now offer 6,000 sq ft of outside amenity space.
Originally designed for a single tenant, the building has now been remodelled to welcome multiple occupiers, with shell and core upgrades incorporating new MEP systems and enhanced on-floor WC provision throughout. The ground floor through to the fifth floor will be fitted out to Cat A, with subdivisions allowing joint tenancies on each floor. Elsewhere, the existing atrium on levels two, three and four are being infilled to improve access to the office space from the core and to create the new flexible floor plates.
Having carried out the original structural design nearly 20 years previously, our structures team are using their in-depth knowledge of Warwick Court to help streamline the adaptation process. This includes the partial infilling of the existing atria and the integration of new stability bracing to support the remodelling of the reception area to create a generous open entrance space.
As part of the initiative to reduce whole-life carbon, our building services design ensures the building will be free from fossil fuel in operation. Through the strategic replacement of the existing MEP systems, which incorporate new air source heat pump technology and intelligent LED lighting, the operational carbon emissions will be cut by approximately 45%, whilst water consumption will also be minimised through the provision of water efficient fittings throughout. The majority of the building will use green refrigerant with low global warming potential (CO2 and R-1234ze) and, in recognition of the refurbishment’s sustainability credentials, the scheme aims to achieve an ‘Excellent’ certification under BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-out.
Laura Collins, Stanhope’s Project Director on Warwick Court, said: “Warwick Court is a landmark building in an iconic location, and this refurbishment will give it a new lease of life, bringing it in line with the needs of modern City of London occupiers. The flexibility of the space and level of specification – including COVID secure measures – makes it a natural choice for companies to secure what we think are the best views in the Square Mile. Our gender balanced project team have worked incredibly hard during a global pandemic to deliver a project through the design, procurement and strip out phase. We look forward to continue the success, build upon our lessons learnt through the pandemic and deliver the scheme safely and efficiently in 2022.”
Mark Terndrup, Waterman’s Managing Director for Building Services – South, said: “Having been involved in the original Paternoster Square development, it’s fantastic to be a part of the team that is sensitively bringing Warwick Court up to date. It is a great opportunity to explore the best ways to reduce the building’s carbon footprint and to show how to really enhance the energy performance of existing building stock. I’m delighted to note that the project is being led by a team of senior female professionals, which demonstrates the progress our industry is making with gender equality and will hopefully help inspire people of all genders to pursue a career in the Construction Industry.”
This fantastic project aims to reach completion by March 2022.
