230,000 sq ft Westminster mixed-use development to be constructed by BAM
Hemel Hempstead, 14 December 2015 - BAM Construction is to substantially remodel the central Westminster residential and office space at 63-65 Buckingham Gate for our client, Anquila Corporation Ltd of Hong Kong, to create a high-quality development to be known as 1, 2 & 3 Buckingham Green, SW1. The circa 230,000 sq ft mixed-use project is managed by Gardiner & Theobald on behalf of Anquila Corporation, who are in turn represented by London & Oriental.
The building is situated at the edge of St James’s, close to Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Every day it is walked past by thousands of people and the design, by architect Fletcher Priest, transforms an existing dark alley atmosphere by creating a new and open public realm space and increased transparency at street level.
BAM was selected as preferred contractor for the design, procurement, construction and completion of three mixed-use buildings, consisting of private residential, office and retail space.
Each of the three buildings has its own building block and individual design connected via street level urban realm plus a double storey basement.
The tower will be stripped back and entirely re-clad to provide 65 high-specification one, two, three and four-bed apartments which will be available to rent and four floors of prime Grade A office space in the redesigned building inspired by Mies van der Rohe. The Podium will provide 33,000 sq ft of unique prime Grade A office space and The Annexe building will offer two bespoke 2,500 sq ft floors of modern studio office space alongside 12,000 sq ft of new A1 and A3 retail space across the scheme forming an entirely re-landscaped quarter.
The scheme was granted planning approval by Westminster City Council in September 2014.
Construction Director for BAM, Andy Mason, says: ‘These are high-end offices / apartments and the architects’ use of light and the high standards of public realm will transform their look and feel. The finished buildings must be capable of attracting a range of residential tenants, retail and commercial occupiers. The buildings recently served as headquarters for Rolls Royce reflecting their upmarket appeal. BAM’s work on complex and high-specification buildings is well-established, having worked on some of the capital’s most impressive new builds, from the Angel Building, the current transformation of Kings Cross, and HQs for UNISON, Burberry and 55 Baker Street (the former M&S headquarters). This scheme is a fantastic vision in the heart of the capital and given the team’s wide ranging experience we are all well placed to deliver.’
Mark Cannell of London & Oriental added: ‘This is a long term investment project for Anquila and we believe that the exemplary design, the quality of materials and the attention to detail will help us to achieve this. We consider the contractor and the professional team are all ‘best in class’ and representative of this philosophy.’
BAM will make the buildings more energy efficient in use, reconfigure an existing car park, and deliver the Cat A fit-out. Works on site have commenced and will be completed towards the end of 2017.