Project Overview
Skanska is a client Sentinel has worked with on numerous major projects. So, we were particularly proud to be chosen to carry out all commercial decorating work at the company’s London office.
This was another opportunity to demonstrate why Sentinel is London’s favourite specialist decorating sub-contractor. We are pleased to say our contribution to the refurbishment of the building, at 51 Moorgate in the heart of the City, was an entirely positive one.
Skanska, a multi-national construction and development company, has come a long way since it was founded in Sweden in 1887 as a concrete manufacturer.
The company’s headquarters opened at this prestigious London location in 2019, and it set new standards for the health and wellbeing of those who use office buildings.
The quality of life of those working in and visiting 51 Moorgate was key to the success of the site’s refurbishment. Specifically, Skanska was keen that the building would be one of the first sites in the UK to qualify for the WELL Building Platinum Standard.
This was a substantial project to upgrade the 45,000 square feet of commercial space at the site. The revamped version of the building contains eight floors of office space and some ground-floor retail units.
The previous version of the building was put up in the 1980s, and the recent upgrading work brought it up to current British Council for Offices standard and replaced some outdated building services.
Extensive research went into planning the new internal layout of the building. Experts carried out space utilisation and occupation studies before drawing up the final plans, which include fully agile working on the office floors.
The designs for the building, which was drawn up by John Robertson Architects, also included some features specific to Skanska and its activities. These included collaboration areas, break-out spaces and a technology-free “wellbeing room”.
Project Brief
Sentinel is a specialist decorating contractor with extensive experience. So, we were not fazed in the slightest when Skanska invited us to design a decorating solution that would meet the company’s ambitions that its London headquarters would earn the WELL Building Platinum Standard.
Among the stipulations was the requirement that materials used should reduce people’s exposure to hazardous building substances. This was to be achieved through restricting or eliminating the use of compounds or products that are known to be toxic, in favour of safer replacements.
Skanska occupies three storeys at 51 Moorgate, with the five upper floors let to other occupants. The design work by John Robertson Architects was carried out after extensive consultation with Skanska and those tenants.
The design for the building included living walls, break-out spaces, dining areas and kitchenettes on each floor. The intention was to enhance the building by choosing a Scandinavian-inspired natural colour palette and material choice, as well as way-finding detail inspired by the company’s branding.
The finished, redeveloped 51 Moorgate includes an extra floor, with rooftop level access. Natural light floods into the building through floor-to-ceiling windows. And the air conditioning, heating and lighting are driven by low-energy, high-efficiency systems.
Visitors will also find a reconfigured reception area with a public café and one of the building’s living walls. Those who arrive by bicycle can use a ground-floor storage area and associated changing facilities.
Challenges / Solution
This project did not come without its challenges – which meant that Sentinel’s extensive expertise in decoration came into play.
For instance, the Skanska HQ had a variety of wall coverings installed in different areas – and the work of putting them in place was carried out while the building was being commissioned.
As a result, our commercial decorating work was carried out in varying temperatures. We are happy to report that all decorations were completed to a high-quality finish.
We used a wide range of products to deliver that finish. They included backless fabric wallpaper, CP2 paint and intumescent paint. Intumescent paint delivers a passive fire protection dimension; when exposed to extreme heat, it expands to form a protective layer around the surface where it has been applied, allowing for increased heat resistance.
Among the paints we used at 51 Moorgate were:
Our commercial decorating operatives carried out work from the ground floor right through to the top-floor offices. We decorated the concrete soffits, plasterboard rafts, concrete columns, plasterboard walls, wooden skirting boards and wooden floors.
The Result
It is incredibly pleasing to be able to report that all decorations were completed to a high-quality finish. Our work finished on schedule and was extremely well coordinated with the other teams working on this illustrious development.
Sentinel Director Mark Stewart said: “This ambitious project set out to meet the WELL Building Standard, support occupiers aspiring to WELL certification, and to create a modern workplace in the heart of the City that promotes health, wellbeing and productivity.
“We’re proud to have contributed with materials that mitigate the impact of decoration on the environment, and to have achieved such a stunning end result.”
The building uses 100 per cent renewable fossil fuel-free energy. The air conditioning, heating and lighting systems are all low-energy and highly efficient. Increased levels of natural daylight, combined with presence-sensing lighting, help to save energy.
As a result, the building is on course to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, which means it is a high-quality sustainable development.
It is also set to become one of the first UK buildings to achieve the WELL Building Platinum standard, the pinnacle of health ratings for commercial premises.
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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