Architect and Builder November/December 2018 | Page 64

Armstrong Ceilings
Rejuvenates Tired Building
A mix of metal and mineral systems from Armstrong Ceilings has helped to transform a tired office block
opposite Victoria station in London into a stunning mixed-use building.
F
irst-time Armstrong specifiers
MA X architects specified them
to differentiate from the more
traditional Category A fit-outs elsewhere
in the Victoria regeneration area, as well as
for their high quality and flexibility.
Armstrong’s perforated metal D-Clip
island or floating ceilings, a modern and
modular absorber solution for exposed
concrete ceilings, feature on all six office
floors (11,000m 2 ), while white mineral
Ultima+ 600mm x 600mm boards in an
exposed 24mm grid were used in the
back-of-house areas.
The redevelopment of 25 Wilton
Road has raised the bar by delivering a
project that performs both commercially
and functionally in the same way as a
prime commercial new-build. Three new
lightweight steel floors of 14 high-quality
rental apartments (4,000m 2 ) have been
incorporated into a building previously
used exclusively for commercial purposes.
64
What was then Parnell House was
underperforming at £35/ft 2 and with leases
coming up, MAX were asked to take a look
at the building. Once fully let it will have
increased in capital value threefold or by
271% once the £38mn project costs have
been taken into account.
MAX architect Ashley Gilbert said:
“The idea was to differentiate the space
from the more traditional Category A fit-
outs being delivered elsewhere. The high
quality and flexibility of the Armstrong
metal D-Clip island ceiling allowed us to
accomplish this.”
Ashley Gilbert added: “The design
team was initially tasked with creating
initiatives to add value to the building
through improvements to the landlord
areas. Accordingly, the project started out
as a circa £5mn light-touch refurbishment.
However, we soon recognised the potential
for increasing the volume and height of
the building and adding a new residential
use. The value created by introducing three
floors of rental apartments on top of the
existing structure fundamentally changed
the development appraisal. The brief
therefore evolved to include the creation
of a prime office development and high-
end apartments, as well as mixed-use
space at street level. Leveraging a shift in
attitudes to holding residential assets for
the longer term, we created a horizontally-
layered mixed-use building with residential
above office and retail.”
www.armstrongceilings.co.za
Advertorial