Having signed the contract with client Multiplex earlier this Spring, the Staticus team has started work on the design stage for One Exchange Square, a large-scale and high-profile restoration in the heart of London’s financial district.
Named by Barbour in the top 60 largest construction projects in London this year, One Exchange Square is an ambitious renovation project located within the Broadgate campus in London’s financial district. The original 1980s building is to be transformed into a high quality office complex designed by architects Fletcher Priest. It will offer over 39,500 m2 of offices and 1,500 m2 of retail, while revitalising the pedestrian area.
Our team will be working closely with both Fletcher Priest and consultants Eckersley O’Callaghan on the design, production and installation of the building’s new façade. Delivering this 14,500 m2 façade will be our largest sub-contract in the UK.
Strong focus on sustainability
The One Exchange Square project has set the bar extremely high in terms of sustainability.
There is a strong focus on reducing embodied carbon, and the client is aiming for the building to have 50% less embodied carbon than comparable offices, and to exceed the Greater London Authority’s carbon targets. Reuse of existing materials and structure will be key to achieving this goal. While the Exchange Square elevation will get a radical overhaul, over 90% of the building’s structure will be kept.
We will also be playing a key role in ensuring the project achieves the BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum certification it is targeting. Intelligent façade design and mechanical services will be combined with building management systems to optimise operational energy use.
According to the Planning and Development Director at City of London Corporation, Gwyn Richards, the end result will be “an exemplary retrofit scheme with outstanding sustainability credentials.” As a façade contractor aiming to lead the way in terms of sustainability practice and innovation, we are excited to contribute to such an ambitious project.
Our largest sub-contract in the UK
Along with being a high-profile and architecturally significant project, One Exchange Square marks another milestone for our development in the UK market. It is our largest sub-contract in the UK to date, and we are delighted to be partnering with some of the biggest players in the market. Multiplex are the Principal Contractor, with LaSalle acting as Investement Manager, and M3 Consulting acting as Development Manager on behalf of Malaysian investor Permodalan Nasional Berhad.
Overcoming challenges to delivering a sustainability exemplar
One Exchange Square has been highlighted as an exemplary project for sustainable refurbishment. As a result, it is a highly complex project, with design processes having incorporated whole life cycle carbon analysis and thermal modelling.
This translates into a technically-challenging façade for us. A portion of the existing envelope material will be retained. Furthemore, the exoskeleton, one of the project’s key architectural features, will influence our design for one of the main façade element types. The façade will also include features such as Juliette balconies (on floors 2-12) and full-height openable windows.
Production for One Exchange Square is scheduled to begin at the end of the Summer, 2024, and we expect to be on site to kick off installation in October 2024. Production should be complete in Q2 2025.
