WilkinsonEyre was appointed by Stanhope, acting for building owners AFIAA, in 2016 following a brief competition. The project began with a feasibility study for the optimum solution for the redevelopment of Garrard House, a 14,000m2 (150,000ft2) net office building on Gresham Street. The building was completed in 1998 for Schroders’ sole occupation as their headquarters.
Our design solution increases the available Grade A office space to 15,500m² over nine levels, introducing flexible office environments with a capacity for multi-tenanted floors. The envelope has been upgraded and carefully extended while observing a scale and form that complements the historic urban setting and overall context of this area of the City of London. Refining the architectural language with a sharper outline and generous fenestration at ground floor level, the designs better engage the building with the surrounding urban fabric. In developing an overall form that ties together the new elements with the existing in a homogenous manner the architectural concept maintains legibility between the old and new.
Gresham St Paul’s has achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’, through pragmatic service solutions and significant upgrade of the external envelope. This approach attempts to re-use as much of the existing façade, structure and sub-structure as possible with new materials employed as required. In comparison to a new building on the same site, or retention of the original, carbon footprint analysis undertaken with Mace has calculated that reuse and refurbishment has the best environmental outcome over a projected 60 lifespan.
Two existing levels have been rebuilt and an additional level added, optimising the footprint within a context of strict planning controls. The stepped design of the upper levels provided the opportunity to create landscaped roof terraces with extensive views of the nearby St Paul’s Cathedral and across the City of London. High-quality external façade choices including new natural stone elements complement the original Portland Stone facades.
