ISG Secures £16 Million City Tower Scheme

ISG has secured the £16 million project to refurbish and upgrade City Tower in Basinghall Street, London for owners Great Portland Estates and investment firm Starwood Capital. The contract sees ISG working across 10 floors of the 21-storey office building – approximately 80,000 sq ft of accommodation, which will remain partially occupied throughout the duration of the fast-track project.

The scheme, a continuation of ISG’s existing relationship with Great Portland Estates, encompasses major refurbishment and remodelling works both internally and externally at City Tower, to deliver BREEAM very good office accommodation and improved public realm space. A key element of the project focuses on the enhancement of the two-storey podium deck at the base of the structure, occupying a much larger footprint than the tower and including a public high walkway area.

At podium level, ISG will build a new glazed entrance portico, create a contemporary reception area and form a secondary entrance. Major structural alterations will see the introduction of new roof lights on the podium deck and performance glazing to the southern elevation to maximise the volume of natural light entering the building’s lower levels. The existing restaurant and hard landscaping elements on the high walkway area will be carefully removed and a new attractive landscaping scheme introduced to enhance the public area surrounding City Tower.

The tower’s façade will also be upgraded as part of the programme, with ISG installing replacement aluminium cladding panels to enhance the visual impact of the building. Significant structural work will also be carried out across the tower’s roof with the introduction of enlarged plant openings and removal and replacement of existing water tanks.

ISG will fit out the open plan office accommodation to Cat A standard and undertake a major programme of mechanical and electrical works to improve the efficiency of building services. This work will be carried out on a seasonal basis to minimise disruption to tenants in occupation across the remaining floors within the building. The project is scheduled for completion in summer 2013.

ISG’s Stuart Deverill, managing director - London, commented: “Securing this high profile project was a hard fought process and our appointment undoubtedly recognises ISG’s capabilities delivering complex, logistically challenging schemes. As clients look to enhance the value and performance of their property portfolios, asset optimisation schemes represent an important source of opportunities for ISG, particularly with our requisite experience and delivery track record.”