KAJIMA STARTS CONSTRUCTION ON SUSTAINABLE OFFICE REFURBISHMENT IN FITZROVIA

Works have started on the reconstruction of 16 Berners Street (previously Orwell House) in the heart of Fitzrovia. Curo Construction has been appointed as the contractor for the project, designed by Gibson Thornley architects in collaboration with sustainability experts Max Fordham.

The refurbishment will transform the 28,600 sq ft office building into best-in-class workspace, retaining c. 70% of the existing building whilst also adding a further 20% of net area to provide 35,000 sq ft of aspirational and exceptionally designed space. The development aligns with best construction practices and circular economy principles, aiming to reduce embodied carbon by retaining the building’s existing structure and utilising reclaimed materials, including recycling bricks on site and utilising steel from the oil and gas industry in the structure.

The finished product will be brand new, with a new façade, core, internal configuration and services. The ambitious project is part of Kajima’s broader strategy of ESG-driven design and development, minimising the environmental impact throughout the building’s lifecycle.

Due to be completed in 2026, 16 Berners Street joins Kajima’s portfolio of office assets in London. These include 77 Coleman Street in the City of London, which won the Best City of London refurbishment award in 2022, and 31,000 sq ft prime office development at 27 Soho Square in London's West End.

John Harcourt, Managing Director, Kajima Europe, said: "One of the most exciting aspects of 16 Berners Street is how we have implemented our approach to sustainability, for example through the use of reclaimed steel oil rig columns. By taking a data-driven approach to sustainability, we've managed to reduce embodied carbon and give new life to industrial elements that would otherwise go to waste. This is a great example of our commitment to ESG strategies and is a bold step forward in how we think about construction and material resource efficiency. And its only a three-minute walk to the Elizabeth Line”