McLaren Construction to refurbish London’s Brettenham House

UK developer McLaren Construction has been selected as the main contractor by real-estate company Helical for the £90m ($122.2m) refurbishment of Brettenham House, an art deco landmark in London, England.

The project aims to transform the building into a sustainable office space with ground-floor retail while preserving its historical significance.

The move will modernise the interior, including the creation of usable roof space and the restoration of the facade's original detailing, particularly at ground level on Lancaster Place.

The 128,716ft² of office space will be upgraded to achieve Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Outstanding, National Australian Built Environment Rating System 5*, energy performance certificate A ratings, and WELL Platinum certification, with an additional 6,600ft² of outdoor terrace space.

Communal spaces will be enhanced at each entrance, offering various collaborative, work, and social spaces.

The basement will see a reduction in car parking in favour of increased cycle storage and end-of-journey facilities. Building services and glazing will also undergo replacement and upgrades.

Built in 1932, Brettenham House is recognised as a building of merit within the Savoy Conservation Area and retains many original art deco features, including marble staircases.

Over the years, alterations have disrupted the facade's historic pattern and details, which will be addressed in the refurbishment.

Missing elements such as the bronze lanterns at the main entrance will be recreated, and service louvres on Savoy Street will be covered by decorative grilles.

McLaren Construction London & South managing director Darren Gill said: “This monumental building at the top of Waterloo Bridge will be a familiar landmark to so many of London’s workers and visitors and we will all enjoy seeing it restored and revitalised.

"It’s not so long ago that it would have seemed like a tall order to bring a 1930s building up to the standards of a brand-new office, but that’s become a far more familiar and achievable task.”

Helical senior development executive Matt Redgrove added: “We are very pleased to be partnering with McLaren to revitalise this art deco icon. Along with sensitively restoring the building, we will be bringing the specification up to modern-day sustainability and amenity standards with the terracing across the building providing unrivalled views along the River Thames.”

Some of the supply chain partners for this project include Deconstruct for steel and concrete, Grant Walker Engineering for piping and brackets, David Andrews for insulation and plasterboard, Kone for lifts, and more.

In March this year, the joint venture of Helical and Transport for London’s property arm, Places for London, received planning approval for a new project above Southwark Tube station.

"McLaren Construction to refurbish London’s Brettenham House" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.

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