The successful transformation of 22 Boulcott Street has been recognised with an Award of Merit for an innovative project with great a collaborative consulting team at the Association for Consulting and Engineering Professionals at the 2018 Innovate Awards.
Due to this extensive transformation, it is difficult to believe that they are the same buildings. Whereas most seismic strengthening projects simply add to existing structural elements, this project involved the demolition of structural shear walls in order to create an open, modern and bright working environment.
A large area of floor in the centre of the building was demolished to create a breath-taking full-height internal atrium that connects the building occupants vertically, and incorporates ‘floating’ pedestrian bridges and a staircase which hangs below the glass roof.
Making use of the existing buildings, which had limited existing drawings, was as an extremely complex engineering problem and construction operation but one which resulted in an absolute triumph, and is a shining example of the sustainable re-use of existing buildings.