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PROJECT REPORT: COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
“We had a full set of record drawings, unlike some smaller buildings of that period that we surveyed” Adam Wood, Buckley Gray Yeoman
building offered in the 1990s, with a greater emphasis on wellness – including access to daylight. If companies are to attract the best people, says Wood, “they need to offer the best in class.”
The shape of the building was unusual. Cantilevering over Middle Dock, and supported on a grillage of beams, it was designed with two equal, straight sides, facing north and west, and a single curved facade moving from east to south facing. The heavy stone cladding had fairly generous glazing to the mid fl oors on the curved facade, but was only minimally glazed above and below. Because of the cantilever, it would not be possible to enhance the foundations, and therefore any additional space would have to be added within the load that the existing foundations could support. “Fortunately,” says Wood, “we had a full set of record drawings, unlike some smaller buildings of that period that we surveyed.” This allowed engineer Waterman to calculate exactly how much additional load the structure could support. Removing the heavy stone cladding and replacing it with a glazed curtain walling system saved enough weight that the team was able to add three more fl oors. Conserving the original steel structure has, the team calculates, saved 10,260 tonnes of CO2
equivalent.
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Quantity & quality
The original building had an inset fl oor at level eight. By infi lling this and much of the atrium, and extending upwards with a lightweight steel structure, the net internal fl oor area has increased by about 25%, to a total of 414,311 ft2. This is a considerable achievement, but would count for little if the quality of that space had not also improved signifi cantly.
That it has is apparent from the moment that one arrives at the building. Previously, there was only one way in, from Jubilee Plaza, on the south east corner. This is still an entrance, but whereas previously visitors passed through a narrow stone barrel that was almost cave-like, now they enter through the welcoming curves of one of the ogees to a colonnade that runs around the curve of the building, and then through a door in the set-back glass curtain walling. They then fi nd themselves in the triple- height reception space. There is also another entrance to this space, from the lower south colonnade at the north-east corner of the building. This is at the level of the reception area and of the main lift core. Visitors who come in from Jubilee Plaza go up a curving staircase to reach reception.
The organic shape of this triple-height
space, enhanced by large circular mirrored areas in the ceiling, is like a statement of
ADF JUNE 2025
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