A gathering point for the business world: Multiple global firms have offices on Regent’s Place, a 13-hectare campus in London’s West End. These include Facebook, Santander Bank, the investment management company Dimensional Fund Advisors L.P., the headquarters of the British department store chain Debenhams and many other renowned names. But Regent’s Place also contains retail and restaurant spaces as well as other recreational facilities.
The development of Regent’s Place, which has already undergone extensive renovation, is making progress with the refurbishment project at 1 Triton Square, due to be carried out between 2018 and 2021. Upon completion, the project by the building contractor British Land Company PLC will house modern and flexible office spaces. The offices are grouped around a large main atrium that connects levels and people with one another. As part of the expansion, the building will be extended from five to eight stories, with four large roof terraces located at the top. The renovation over a total of 366,000 square feet (approx. 34,000 square metres) increases the space available for letting by an additional 127,000 square feet (approx. 12,000 square metres), creates room for retail and recreational opportunities on the ground floor and also offers more affordable work spaces. 310,000 square feet (approx. 29,000 square metres) of office space have been pre-let to the Dentsu Aegis Network, a global communications and media consultancy firm.
During the refurbishment, British Land Company PLC focused on the current requirements of the building’s users as well as on targeting various client groups. The original character of the building constructed in the 1990s has been maintained and simultaneously transferred into modern times, with one of the main factors being the design of the building envelope. This contract was awarded to the facade specialists at Josef Gartner GmbH in Gundelfingen, Bavaria, which belongs to the Permasteelisa Group whose headquarters are located in Italy. The task involved maintaining the object’s familiar features while giving it a fresh and modern look. The single-leaf facade made of glass and natural stone was refurbished and expanded on a total surface of 120,500 square feet (approx. 11,200 square metres).
The majority of the existing facade and extension was reused and partially refurbished, which coincided with the project’s sustainable BREEAM-certified (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) approach. New facade surfaces were also added over the course of the building’s extension. Facade panels by the natural stone supplier Mineral by Eberhart GmbH headquartered in Saarwellingen, Saarland, were installed over a surface of approx. 2,300 square metres. The panels consist of the French “Val de Nod” limestone and measure 900 x 450 x 40 millimetres. The limestone panels were securely installed in the anchor base using approx. 24,000 fischer Zykon-panel anchors FZP II. The undercut anchors were supplied with nuts featuring a custom geometry. The facade system consists of stainless steel (A4) and is therefore corrosion resistant.
The Zykon panel anchors FZP II are installed in natural stone without expansion pressure. “To begin with, conical drill holes are created before an undercut hole is drilled” says Detlef Postler, Project Support fischer Facade systems, describing the process. “Next, the anchors simply need to be expanded using the setting tool before being connected with the substructure. We offer complete systems with the corresponding accessories from a single source for this purpose”. This technique offers many advantages. “In comparison to edge fastenings, the load-bearing capacity increases and the bending stress of the panel is reduced by up to 50 per cent by attaching the anchors to the reverse side in a structurally optimised position, the so-called 1/5 point”, explains Steven-Henrik Maier, Market Manager fischer facade systems. “And that’s not all, as the undercut anchors also provide optical advantages in comparison to edge fastenings by providing a harmonious look between the gaps without any visible fixings elements”.
"We offered the right solution for the project, consisting of undercut anchors, nuts and drilling technology", Detlef Postler summarises, before adding: "Also thanks to local expertise at our national subsidiary fischer UK, we were able to provide not only prompt engineering support for those involved with the construction project, consisting of planning and calculation services, but also on-site assistance by our local ACT expert Jeff Holmes. We will continue to do so until the project's successful completion”.
With truly global partner like fischer, all involved with construction projects can always rely on prompt technical support regardless of where the project is. "It was a pleasure to assist our customer and to share our expertise on such a prestigious project”, says fischer local ACT Manager Jeff Holmes.