The architecture of the new tower utilises concrete in several ways.
As well as forming the structure, the concrete provides the thermal
mass, carries embedded cold water pipes and creates a highly
expressive finish both inside and out. Board-shuttered concrete
wraps the building at pavement level. Above, glazing is interspersed
with metal panels punched with ‘portholes’, and banded with
anodised aluminium panels. The building envelope extends above
the roof height to protect the 150m rooftop running track. An inner
screen of cedar shields the roof plant and 16th floor bar. In contrast,
the lower rise buildings have a range of brick elevation treatments
but are unified by a common modular plant enclosure at roof level.
The building is intended to be ‘loose-fit’, allowing for maximum
flexibility, adaptability and longevity. For the tower interior fit-out,
AHMM designed the space on the principle of one person per 8sqm
in servicing, and one to 6sqm in fire. Each floor can accommodate
either one or two tenant companies as required. Having previously
created an reconfigurable, mobile furniture system called Jack,
AHMM has adapted it for The Office Group, which occupies the first
three floors.
Conceived to withstand the likely impacts of climate change, White
Collar Factory maximises passive systems with the radiant concrete
slab providing heating and cooling via a bespoke ‘Concrete Core
Cooling’ system. Glazing varies in response to the orientation of the
tower with most to the north, less to the east and west, and least
to the south. Openable windows enable 70% natural ventilation of
the floor plate, allowing the user to be in full control of their own
environment. A two-level cycle hub encourages sustainable travel
with space for nearly 300 bikes in the basement. The development
is rated EPC A, BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum.
The project has floors of 53m x 41m with a 3.45m floor-to-ceiling
height – and was between 15-20% cheaper to build than the
equivalent standard building. Through the intelligent use of passive
servicing, the development is also expected to provide a 10-33%
reduction in operational energy costs per annum (dependent on
tenant fit-out approach) and 25% reduction in operational carbon
emissions over a typical office building.
Prior to construction, in a unique move which involved considerable
financial investment, the team created a £1million prototype. A
325sqm slice of White Collar Factory jacked up on stilts was set up
on site in 2013 and tested over a period of 12 months. The results
of this research informed the final building design, proved the
theories beyond any reasonable doubt, and enabled buy-in from
the market which has resulted in a full roster of tenants from the
outset.
In addition to the 22,900 sqm new tower, the development
comprises two retained and refurbished properties plus three new
infill buildings to the south of the site. These smaller, 4-5 storey
buildings knit together the previously fragmented city block and
provide a diverse campus of incubator workplace, restaurant,
retail and nine residential apartments. Designed in collaboration
with landscape architect BBUK, the campus is arranged around a
new public square, Old Street Yard, with wider pavements at the
perimeter, creating a vibrant new piece of city for London.
www.ahmm.co.uk