The new rooftop pavilion and external envelope works include large ‘frameless’ skyframes, craned into position. The lightweight hybrid timber and steel structure was carefully detailed, working with Elliott Wood to reduce the amount of strengthening works required to the existing building below, improving the refurbishments embodied carbon footprint. The use of timber in the proposal extends beyond the structure to the external cladding, where scalloped timber profiles provide a tactile and subtle backdrop to the new landscaped amenity space.

A significant challenge throughout the life of this scheme has been working with the existing building levels. Very tight floor-to-floor heights resulted in an existing floor-to-ceiling height of between 2.5 and 2.6m and a combined structure and service zone of only 425mm. Careful design and coordination ensured that we retained these heights with a much improved servicing strategy, increasing fresh air across the floor plates in excess of BCO guidance, one of many improvements to ensure the scheme remains attractive in the emerging post-COVID workplace.
While additional ceiling height wasn’t feasible, bespoke LED strip lights introduced neatly within recessed profiles across the ceiling grid helped increase a sense of depth across the floor plates, almost mimicking that of a raft ceiling’s appearance. Retaining the highly controlled performance offered by a pressed metal ceiling system, which has had the added aesthetic benefit of also being grille-less in this application.

– project architect Elisa Micozzi

About the Project

7 Newgate Street is an office building originally completed in 2000 and located in The City of London, adjacent to The Central Criminal Court (The Old Bailey).

The existing building lacked the appropriate street presence for a building of this size. Its tinted glazing and heavily framed curtain wall made for a dark, uninviting entrance.

The proposals increase the visibility of the office entrance and lower building register to Newgate Street; provide a new, high-quality amenity space in the form of a rooftop pavilion with direct access to landscaped terrace space; update existing office accommodation throughout and provide enhanced building facilities for tenants, visitors, commuters and building management.

Interventions to maximise the building’s potential can be summarised as follows:

• Replace and rationalise the existing corner entrance, re-glazing and increasing entrance door provision to the building;
• Replace glazing and spandrel panels across the ground and 1st floors to Newgate Street elevation;
• Refinish all existing metalwork to retained windows, doors, metal cladding and louvres in a dark grey colour to Newgate Street and Warwick Lane elevations;
• Part demolition of existing level 7 plantroom, rebuilt and extended towards Newgate Street elevation to create a communal rooftop amenity space serviced by a new pavilion for the enjoyment of the whole building;
• Refurbish existing private roof terraces at levels 5 and 6;
• Urban greening to existing and new external terrace areas including perimeter planting.
•  Complete strip out of existing office building back to shell and core;
• Relocation of building services across rooftop and basement areas to provide space for external amenity space at level 7;
• Provide quality commuter facilities including secure cycle parking and showers facilities;
• Enlarged and re-planned reception and entrance space to improve building user arrival experience;
• Improve quality of office spaces with improved day lighting and modern, efficient, mechanical services;
• Complete replacement of all existing lifts and running mechanisms.

This project is nearing practical completion. To find out more or to discuss a new project, please contact project lead John Kirwan – jkirwan@morrowlorraine.com.