With our love of ‘Retrofirst’ projects that enable the next chapter of a building’s story to be told, working on the building originally known as Shell-Mex House is a challenge that is right up our street. This huge Grade II listed 1930s building at 80 Strand, is the oil giant’s former headquarters.

With the project just starting on site, we are providing site stage services to Standbrook as part of the major refurbishment.

Working alongside PDP architects, Chapman BDSP as services engineers and Sir Robert McAlpine, the project involves delivering a new glazed entrance pavilion and new break-out spaces, along with a Cat A refurbishment of four floors of the buildings.

The listed structure presents some complex engineering challenges with the new break-out spaces being in the form of two double height pavilions. This means existing trusses and beams have to be cut to gain access to them. The new-build entrance pavilion, fabricated by Seele involves creating an elegant structure with slender elements that is able to accept high-spec glazing.

What an incredible building to apply our engineering skills to!