Project Overview
Kingston University is one of the leading centres of further education in London – indeed, in the whole United Kingdom.
And since 2020 its visually stunning heart has been Town House, constructed on the university’s main campus just to the south of Kingston upon Thames.
Sentinel, the UK’s preferred specialist decorating contractor, was engaged by main developer Willmott Dixon, which has been named Education Constructor of the Year three times.
We were delighted to provide a full suite of commercial decorating and passive fire protection services throughout the six-storey structure, which was designed by Grafton Architects – winner in 2020 of a RIBA Gold Medal.
The visually striking construction has quickly become a respected local landmark that is popular with students, residents and businesses.
Town House replaced an outdated temporary building with a 9,400 square-metre structure that now stands as a central point for the university’s main campus.
The light, airy interior houses a multi-floor library, a huge variety of learning spaces, and a spacious auditorium. It is also open to the local community, who can visit the two cafes on site.
This is a £50 million project that has won a host of prestigious design awards since its completion. As a specialist decorating contractor with extensive expertise, Sentinel is deeply proud to have played such a full part in the delivery of a genuinely superb addition to the landscape of south-west London.
Project Brief
With its imposing vertical concrete columns running the full extent from the ground to the top floor, Town House is a prominent and eye-catching local landmark.
Grafton Architects chose reconstituted stone for the colonnade, which pays homage to the Grade II Listed building opposite, which used to function as Surrey’s County Hall.
As London’s favourite specialist decorating and fire protection sub-contractor, Sentinel’s contribution to this auspicious development was the decoration of the entire building.
That meant we were responsible for the finish on the walls, ceilings, floors, woodwork and metalwork throughout Town House.
We were privileged to play a part in the delivery of a structure so visually impressive and functionally in tune with the needs of the local student population and community.
This project also considered Kingston University’s sustainability commitments. The colonnade provides solar shading, which cools the building and reduces energy consumption. There is also a photovoltaic array, and landscaping designed to support increased biodiversity.
Town House was modelled to BIM Level 2 protocols, under which much of the building was constructed from pre-cast concrete.
Most of the pre-cast concrete are 500mm deep, while those measuring 750mm weigh up to 22 tonnes. All beams were lifted into place directly from the delivery vehicle, which helped to maximise the construction efficiencies associated with pre-fabrication. This also significantly reduced vehicle movements and wastage on site.
Students can now use the focal point of their university for many purposes. The library spans several floors, while there are dance studios and a theatre, as well as informal learning spaces.
On the top floor, visitors can access a rooftop garden that commands sensational views of the town and across the Thames to Hampton Court.
Challenges / Solution
As a specialist decorating contractor with extensive expertise, Sentinel is confident in its ability to overcome any challenge associated with commercial decoration or firestopping.
Decorating Town House included the need to treat large expanses of timber panelling, which was a central feature of Grafton Architects’ bold design for the interior of the new structure.
This required a firestopping solution that would match untreated and pre-treated timber and could also meet the stringent sustainability requirements at the site.
Our team took several measures that enabled them to deliver the required level of passive fire protection while enhancing the natural beauty of the timber panelling used.
After a careful selection process, we applied intumescent Envirograf paint to all architectural woodwork and panelling. The aim was to deliver a flawless match for the untreated and pre-treated timber.
The areas of Town House where we delivered a complete commercial decorating and firestopping service included:
The Result
We take pride in the fact that Sentinel provided a complete commercial decorating and firestopping service at the Kingston University Town House.
Mark Stewart, the CEO of Sentinel, said at the building’s opening in January 2020: “Town House was an ambitious decoration and firestopping brief – one we fully embraced and delivered to exacting standards.
“The end result is stunning, and we are proud to have played our part in this stellar Willmott Dixon project.
“It’s thrilling to know that our decorating solution has helped create an inviting, welcoming environment to be enjoyed by the University, residents and businesses.”
Professor Steven Spier, the university’s vice-chancellor, echoed those sentiments when he said: “Town House is a stunning architectural achievement – an inspirational building with a variety of spaces which break down barriers and encourage creativity, shared learning and unexpected encounters.”
As planned, the untreated and pre-treated timber matched flawlessly. The building has since been rated BREEAM Excellent for its many sustainability features.
It has also scooped a host of incredibly prestigious design awards, including the 2021 RIBA Stirling Prize and the 2022 Architecture Prize at the world-renowned Mies van der Rohe Awards, effectively ranking it Europe’s best new building.
Town House was also recognised at the RIBA London Awards, the Civic Trust Awards and the Architectural Association of Ireland Awards.
Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s a critical aspect of modern construction projects. Working with industry leaders like Dulux, we help contractors meet their sustainability objectives without compromising on performance or aesthetics.
As we approach 2025, building safety remains a top priority, particularly when it comes to fire safety. At Sentinel, we’ve been at the forefront of this critical area, helping our clients ensure that their buildings are protected, compliant, and aligned with the industry’s most rigorous safety standards.
Sentinel Contracting plc
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