20NEWSWWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF FEBRUARY 2020
Atkins has moved into a new 10,000 m^2
office in Woodcote Grove, Epsom, on the
same site where the company was first
based in the 1960s.
The office, which was designed by
Atkins’ architects, provides a modern,
efficient and flexible workspace for
1,300 multi-disciplinary staff. Featuring
open layouts, interlinked with meeting and
relaxation areas as well as a series of quiet
pods, the building has been designed to
promote collaboration, while the various
communal areas, cafeteria and forum area
offer employees a “range of informal places
to connect and relax,” said the architects.
Sustainability played a role in the design,
with the building positioned to maximise
solar benefits, ventilation and natural light.
The building was also developed in line
with the “highest sustainability standards,”
and has received a BREEAM Excellent
rating and an A-rated Energy Performance
Certificate (EPC).
HBD, formerly known as Henry BootDevelopments, were chosen as delivery
partner from the design stage, with Speller
Metcalfe appointed to deliver the building
shell and other Category A works. With
Faithful+Gould as team lead, Modus
Workspace were chosen to manage the
Category B fit-out and installation of
fixtures, furniture and equipment to
complete the building ready for its opening.
Faithful+Gould also project managed the
movement of staff from the old facilities on
the Epsom Estate to the new site.
Atkins took a “strong inter-disciplinary
approach” from the early stages of the
project, “relying on a collaborative effort
from over 20 disciplines across its
business,” including architects, project
management, building services, sound and
lighting engineers, archaeologists and
ecologists.
From their new office, the team in Epsom
will continue to work on projects such as
the Heathrow Airport Expansion, Aquatar
and the Thames Tideway Tunnel.The Royal Borough of Kensington and
Chelsea has granted planning
permission for a 120-bedroom hotel
on Pavilion Road in Knightsbridge,
London, which will be designed by
PRP + Hamiltons Architects on behalf
of Beaumont Properties.
PRP and Hamiltons Architects have
formed a joint venture to provide
architectural services on the project,
which will cost £70m and replace a
multi-storey car park with a luxury
boutique hotel and public facilities,
including a business centre, a lounge, a
restaurant and a bar. A separate fitness
club, restaurant and 23,000 ft^2 of
retail space will be provided at ground
and basement level.
The architects commented: “This
development will breathe new life into
the area with a high-quality,
contextually-oriented contemporary
architectural design that will attract
people, and provide a new destination
for visitors and the community into
this undiscovered corner of
Knightsbridge. They added: “The site,
which falls outside the Hans Town
Conservation Area, provides a unique
opportunity to deliver a
contemporary building that is both
innovative and contextual.”
The public realm at street level will
be designed to “encourage the public
to approach the building and engage
with the wide range of public facilities
offered by the hotel that will be visible
through the highly glazed external
wall.” With the planting of four semi-
mature trees and the provision of
planted gardens on its extensive roof
terraces, the structure “will appear to
its neighbours, visitors, and occupants
as a tranquil oasis in this busy part of
London,” said the architects.PRP JV with
Hamiltons
Architects for
Knightsbridge
hotel
HOTELSAtkins opens new office at
historic Epsom site
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