Stanton Williams and Universal Design Studio retrofit former Police HQ in Vauxhall

Located on Albert Embankment in Vauxhall, the 12-storey, 95,000 sq ft 1960s block had long stood abandoned when The Office Group purchased the site from the Reuben Brothers for £20 million in 2015. Stanton Williams won permission to convert and extend it in 2017.

Existing office space has been expanded and improved, and large communal areas, including a café, informal meeting areas and workshop, have been provided on the ground and first floors. A new facade of facing brick and glazed tiles aims to reference the original building’s design, as well as the history of pottery production nearby.

Most of the top floor, where the former plant was located, has been removed and replaced with a ‘floating canopy roof’, beneath which sits a rooftop bar, terrace and an apartment for overnight stays.

The interiors, designed by Universal Design Studio, were inspired by its 1960s heritage, aiming to both keep the existing and draw from it. The firm also designed a ‘secret room’ hidden behind a cleaner’s cupboard that will serve as a members-only space.

Client’s view

The bones of this building are excellent with brilliant natural light, probably as good as you can get, but it’s not an established business location… yet. It’s an area that’s improving at a dramatic pace and to be part of that story, we’ve worked incredibly hard to deliver a building that is striking in its design and very, very rich in its content.

Charlie Green, co-CEO, The Office Group

Project data

Completion 
June 2018
Gross internal floor area 10,000m²
Construction cost Confidential
Architect 
Stanton Williams
Client 
The Office Group
Structural engineer 
Heyne Tillett Steel
M&E consultant EEP
Quantity surveyor cost consultant Quantem
Planning Consultant DP9
Project manager 
Opera