Originally designed by Ralph Erskine and Lennart Bergstrom, the ARK office building in Hammersmith, West London opened in 1992 and has since become a landmark in the city’s skyline. It’s particularly known for its iconic curvature and “Crow's Nest” panoramic meeting room.
In 2023, an area of over 14 000 square metres of the office building was refurbished to align with the demands of today’s workforce who desire spaces that are conducive to a healthy work-life balance.
BW and Gensler’s Refurbishment of the London Office Building
The global architecture firm Gensler designed the spaces, and BW: Workplace Experts were appointed as main contractor for the refurbishment. The interiors had already been stripped back to the shell and core, but the first two levels were occupied for the duration of the works, presenting additional challenges.
The refurbishment concept provides tenants with modern facilities to place well-being and creativity at the centre. Biophilic office features such as abundant natural lighting and ample outdoor spaces further reinforce its human-centric design.
The office building refurbishment includes:
- A transformed reception
- Common areas
- A multi-use amenity café and lounge
- A full-amenity gym
- A bike store
- Underground parking
- Showers and changing facilities
On the top five levels are over 800 square metres of landscaped terraces – equivalent to four tennis courts of landscaped terraces – featuring meandering paths, stone seating, and extensive planting.
Noise Control in the Office Building Refurbishment
Indoor environmental quality was a key focus in the refurbishment, especially across the public areas such as the atriums that witness peak hours. The interior contracting firm PANARC Interior Solutions installed around 336 square metres of the Rockfon ceiling solution Mono Acoustic across several areas in the office building – some of which were at double and triple height.
As part of the installation process, modular ceiling tiles are installed into a grid, and an acoustic render is then applied to create a smooth, monolithic surface with Class A sound absorption.
