1 TRITON SQUARE, LONDON
height of surrounding structures limited how high the team could go. However, over the last 20 years, 10 to 11 storey buildings have been constructed in Regent’s Place, which has established a higher horizon line in the area.
The redevelopment added three storeys – producing an 85% increase in net office area. The four corner cores have been extended to support these floors, with the original type of limestone cladding having been sourced to enclose these new sections. As well as serving the office levels, Lazzarotto explains that these stair cores also serve the mixed-use “ground floor- plane,” which is accessed via the perimeter. The designers set back the additional levels to create roof terraces. “The aim was to achieve amenity and maintain the consistency of proportion across the elevation,” says Lazzarotto. The original building’s octagonal atrium which was on completion regarded as the largest enclosed atrium in London at 36 metres x 36 metres, has been reduced to 17 metres x 17 metres and infilled with a new steel structure. Lazzarotto explains how “consolidating the atrium transforms the building from a very sterile space, glazed off at every floor to a dynamic open plan allowing for collaboration across floorplates as well as maximising natural daylight and increasing office floor area.” The southeast corner core – where the main entrance is located – has been redesigned to give it “better prominence and engagement,” says Lazzarotto, “creating a more dynamic reception area that fronts onto Regent’s Place.”
Socially active 1 Triton Square is set to become a workplace for 3,500 people. Arup’s design puts a major emphasis on creating a ‘healthy’ workplace that prioritises “wellness and interactivity,” with specific focus on incorporating amenity, daylight and social connectivity throughout the building. To help achieve this, the refurbished facade has been reinstalled one storey up from its original position – “a special part of the project,” says Lazzarotto, “it will allow the building to interact with the square at ground level.” The shifted facade will enhance the lower level space and maximise daylight on the ground and first floor. Also, the 282 m2
rooflight in the
atrium and the floor-to-ceiling glazing in the offices and stairwells floods the interior with an abundance of natural light.
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© Simon Kennedy
As part of the healthy workplace philosophy, the layout incorporates breakout space and stairs between floors to promote walking and visibility. There is also a large gym and health club in the basement, and over 500 spaces of bicycle storage at ground level – incentivising healthy and green personal transport. The five terraces, formed by setting back the facades on the new upper floors, provide space for socialising, working, and relaxing. They will offer panoramic views of the city and Regent’s Park, and facilitate a variety of uses from rest and contemplation to events and sporting activities. The terraces have “established the relationship between the outside and the inside,” says Lazzarotto.
Marginal gains
Adopting the circular economy approach and reusing as much of the existing structure and fabric as possible accounted for 45% of the total carbon saving. The remaining interventions stem from Arup’s ‘marginal gains’ approach.
As the project evolved during the design process, they discovered there was scope to ‘go greener’ than originally planned. “The marginal gains strategy demonstrated that we could get from BREEAM Excellent to BREEAM Outstanding for a minimal extra cost,” says Lazzarotto. As it turned out, this was roughly 0.3% of capital expenditure, compared to a perceived industry norm of around 5%.
The opportunity to dismantle and reuse the facade was a realistic and carbon saving alternative
© Simon Kennedy
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