Arup gets Sheppard Robson-designed HQ in UK
UK-based architectural practice Sheppard Robson has designed the new GBP42 million ($64.9 million approx) sustainable headquarters for global design practice Arup in central London.
Arup announced the practial completion of its headquarters located on No 8 Fitzroy Street in London. Arup’s headquarters replaced two 1960s buildings featuring six floors of office space and associated meeting rooms, reception, café, library, conference and exhibition space. The gross floor area for the completed development is approximately 16,400 square meters.
The space was designed by architects Sheppard Robson, constructed in two phases by Laing O’Rourke with design of internal spaces by Arup Associates and interior designers.
The interior of the office complex features a unique staircase within the atrium to link the communal spaces at ground and basement level. Bespoke glass artwork, specially commissioned from Alex Beleshenko, adorns the fourth side of the atrium. The glass façade features an abstract pattern created by a composition of opaque-colored, translucent and clear vision panels. The patterned glazing panels help in optimizing the entry of natural light into the interiors, reducing solar heat gains.
Mark Kowal, partner at Sheppard Robson and principal architect said, "The design adopts an order dictated by the repetition of a helical DNA strand wrapped around the entire perimeter. The same concept is also expressed on the textured patterning to the atrium feature glass wall.”
Eco-friendly features incorporated into the design are a chilled beam heating and cooling system, solar-heated hot water supply, rainwater collection, daylight sensors and significant sub-metering, allowing monitoring and control of energy usage. Once fully commissioned, the energy consumption for the building will be continually displayed in the reception area as part of Arup’s intent to monitor and reduce that usage.
London-based multi-disciplinary consultancy MoreySmith was specifically commissioned for the interior design of the office floor areas, which utilize a desking system developed by Arup with furniture manufacturer Kinnarps. The office floors incorporate a mix of workspace combining open plan desking with team collaboration, informal and formal gathering and presentation areas.
The 8 Fitzroy Street is designed as a flexible and sustainable working environment accommodating differing needs of Arup’s varied groups.
