In the heart of Brixton, London, the Lambeth Civic Centre makes a striking impact with the use of oversized glazing and minimal design. The commercial building was part of a £30million fit out project that transformed the original 1908 Grade II Listed town hall, extending the original structure and rethinking the purpose.

The building is home to the new civic quarter, as well as a 200 space cycle hub and 194 new homes, 40% of which are part of the affordable housing scheme. It was important to create a strong bond between the employees working within the building and the local community, particularly as their job heavily surrounds the local community.

A glass atrium style structure sits in the centre of the expansive building, reaching impressive heights of 24 metres and acting as the link between all 6 floors. Utilising curtain walling systems, the atrium follows a fully glazed design, allowing employees to benefit from free flowing natural light and therefore enhanced productivity.

The original town hall was cast in a pale stone and the new building utilises materials of the same colour, alongside large elevations of structural glass, to retain the original charm. An energy centre was engineered for the top of the building, powering the entire multi use building in a sustainable way.

As the glass was the primary feature of this commercial building, solar shading had to be non-intrusive yet effective. For this reason, electrochromic glass was specified. The building remains clear and free from external shading solutions, whilst offering occupants shade throughout the day with an electrical glass solution.

The electrochromic glass presents a blue tint when switched on and due to the sheer size of the building, the blue tint mirrors the sky, acting almost as a reflective surface. The blue works in contrast with the pale stone to create a dynamic exterior design, perfect for both residential and commercial use thanks to the minimal design.

The project has won many awards for its innovative architecture and clever use of technical glass, including the RIBA London Award and the OAS Development Award for best new build outside of Central London. Opting for electrochromic glass to offer solar shading was the perfect choice for this mixed use development, enhancing both the architecture and the functionality of the space.