HIGH PERFORMANCE CASE STUDIES: 300-level
SESSION 29
DATE // START TIME // ROOM NUMBER:
Thursday, September 30, 2010 – 11:00am – Altman Gallery
ABSTRACT:
A presentation of the award-winning renovation of the Unilever Headquarters in London, a historically significant 1930s building transformed into a spatially exciting, BREEAM “excellent” building.
SPEAKERS:
John Bushell, Partner, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Michelle Pattison, Global Agile Working Programme Director, Unilever
Ashok Raiji, Partner, Arup
DESCRIPTION:
The Unilever Headquarters in London has won over 30 international awards, and is used by Unilever worldwide as a model for the future.
Unilever London Headquarters occupies a prominent site in the City of London, overlooking Blackfriars Bridge and the River Thames. Completed in 1931 and listed as historically significant in 1977, the project included the redevelopment of the 1930s structure and a portion of a 1970s extension to the north.
Unilever wanted to remain in the building and within the City of London but had operational requirements for a more modern, flexible workplace than that provided by the building, which also had significant functional deficiencies. This presentation explores the design process, which eventually achieved a balance between retaining the important parts of the building’s historic fabric while providing a transformed environmentally responsible workplace and spatial experience for the many visitors to the building.
The entire process is revealed, from early collaboration with the client, setting targets and goals,occupant feedback and post-occupancy performance data. The panel will also discuss energy efficiency with relation to operational costs and carbon emissions including civic and client targets. The panel will also explore strategies for reducing carbon emissions through energy use and material choices.
Design strategies are an important factor in the success of the building. The floor plates were reconfigured within a spatially interesting atrium, creating a stronger sense of interconnection. Staff and meeting facilities are located at the top of the building, which includes a roof garden. On the ground floor, a café, exhibition space, restaurant and conference area restore the public nature of the building.
The fit-out achieves the spirit of openness seen in the 1930s building archive.
The presentation offers key insight into the design and execution of a redevelopment project. The transformed Unilever House offers Unilever a new lease of life within its historic home, safeguards the active future of a listed building and brings the building up to British Council for Offices (BCO) specification throughout, while emphasizing the owner and architect’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.
