Retrofitting this substantial London office with structural glazing elements that fit accurately and fuse the traditional with the modern elements mean that practically each of the bespoke steel framed glass doors and windows was a project in its own right.

The site on Drury lane, Covent Garden presented significant logistical challenges for a total retrofit. In particular, the glazing elements which include bespoke structural glass facade curtain walling, entrance doors, commercial doors, lift and slide doors, Internal steel fire rated glass doors and screens, external fire rated curtain walling, plus steel and steel-look external openable windows with lockable handles for maintenance and cleaning.

The curtain walling to the ground floor of this highly complex and prestigious building was steel framed, not aluminum, preserving the characteristics of its original Victorian period with its unsmooth and weathered appearance due to the inherent composition of steel.

The facades and interfaces in this substantial multi-storey London office presented challenges right up until the point of installation, despite frequent digital scanning surveys.  An example of which is the side elevation of the building where the steel framed glazing could not be installed due to the tight profile of the fixings.

In addition, the external doors were fitted with automation to the main entrance. The screens had openable vents on the actuators, and door in floor mounted operators, as well as steel framed and steel-look external fixed screens all finished in jet black matt RAL 9005.

Fire rated commercial door systems and commercial fire exit doors to the atrium on all levels with glass balustrading.  Steel-look windows and doors open out to the terrace adjacent to a library and cafe allowing plenty of natural light to flood through.

They say that everything is designed, but few things are designed well. Grainhouse achieves everything that was key to the brief and, it comes as no surprise to see this substantial London office renovation be recognised as London’s best workplaces, scooping a win at BCO Regional Awards overcoming a series of logistical challenges, not least a complex layout which stitched together five buildings overlapping different levels with timeless steel framed glass doors and curtain walling.

Grainhouse won the AJ Retrofit Award 2024

If you have a commercial project with a requirement for steel partitions in an office setting, please send us the drawings here!