The Standard
Extensive refurbishment transforming a 1970s Brutalist council office building into a contemporary boutique hotel. Low carbon strategies and extensive research enabled 94% of the existing structure to be reused and repurposed.
Key features
3-storey extension
Adding floors increased the building area by about 2,000m².
Complete re-coring
Internal structural cores and bracing to the upper floors were replaced with a completely new core and external lift.
Minimal strengthening to existing structure
We maximised site density with minimal strengthening, with new steel perimeter columns enabling the re-use of piles and internal columns. Up to 45% of additional load was justified on existing foundations without strengthening
Office to hotel conversion
Extensive archive research informed the refurbishment strategy, allowing 94% of the existing structure to be retained.
Full temporary and permanent works design
A Total Engineering approach meant we were responsible for the structure from enabling works through to permanent works.
Structural embodied carbon
121
kgcO2e/m²
94% of the existing building retained
01-03
“Taking an unloved 1970s Brutalist council office and transforming it into the hippest hotel in England shows the sort of magic that was thought to have expired with Paul Daniels… and with cement production now accounting for 8% of worldwide carbon emissions on its own, opting for renovation over demolition is clearly the virtuous way forward and needs to be applauded.”
Jonathon Morrison, The Times ‘The best architecture of 2019’
Awards
