Project Overview
The appearance of the Old Street district, in the north-east corner of the City of London, was enhanced in April 2022 by the completion of the Featherstone Building.
Its high-quality external aspect earned a place on the shortlists for several prestigious architectural and design awards – and it was matched by the standard of the internal decoration.
This was carried out by Sentinel, London’s preferred specialist decorating contractor. We were commissioned by Skanska, which was working for its long-standing customer Derwent London to a sustainability-focused design created by Morris and Company.
The result is a superior, contemporary addition to a perennially bustling corner of the Square Mile where demand for commercial space is always high. The Featherstone Building is a 10-storey structure that replaced the two buildings that previously stood at the corner of City Road and Featherstone Street.
Our commercial decorating operatives worked throughout those storeys, which feature retail, office and shared amenity space.
While the feel of the building is unmistakably contemporary, the design was inspired by the Victorian warehouses that used to stand in the Old Street area.
One of the most important considerations for all parties was to work towards net-zero carbon goals. The finished building uses 50 per cent less operational carbon than best practice standards, while the annual water consumption throughout the structure is also 50 per cent lower than normal thanks to efficiency measures.
Occupants of the building benefit in other ways from this focus on sustainability. Floor-to-ceiling glazing, allied to high ceilings, ensure that natural light floods into the office space.
Meanwhile, people are encouraged to cycle to work thanks to the availability of 292 cycle spaces and associated shower facilities.
Project Brief
As a specialist decorating contractor with extensive expertise, our team of decorators were perfectly at home in a location where they were required to use their skills throughout the building.
We were comfortable at all stages being one of the specialist teams collaborating to bring this nine-figure project to fruition. Sustainability was a keyword throughout the work, and we were acutely aware we were working on a project where the focus was to deliver a building with a minimal impact on the environment.
The Featherstone Building is supplied by renewable electricity and gas, while solar panels provide an on-site source of renewable energy. The water efficiency measures that cut consumption so impressively include rainwater recycling.
All occupiers can monitor their energy consumption thanks to enhanced sub-metering, while their new home also supports wildlife thanks to its biodiverse green roofs. Every piece of timber used in the construction process is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
The new building’s provision of nearly 300 cycle spaces supports sustainable travel, while helping the physical wellbeing of those who ride to work rather than enduring the traditional commute into the city.
Challenges / Solution
The most challenging aspect of our commercial decorating work at the new Featherstone Building related to the concrete soffits on site.
We had to apply a concrete sealer to all these soffits before all exposed services were installed. This had to be completed swiftly and efficiently because all service contractors engaged on this project were working to an extremely tight schedule.
Sentinel is a specialist decorating contractor with extensive expertise, so it was no surprise when our teams rose to that challenge and completed their work on time – and up to our usual high quality of finish.
So happy were Derwent London with the speed and standard of our work, that they made us the specialist decorators of choice when the time came for office spaces to be fitted out for new tenants.
Among the products we used on this project were:
The Result
We were extremely pleased with the work we carried out at the Featherstone Building.
All the open plan offices on the upper floor levels were finished to a Category A standard. Meanwhile, the affordable office space, and the ground and basement levels, were finished to a Category B standard.
The building as a whole achieved its aim of a 100 per cent biodiversity net gain. It was also rated Outstanding on the BREEAM sustainable building certification scale.
It also achieved LEED platinum and an EPC A rating, and several other standards including WiredScore platinum and AirScore Design & Operation gold.
The building was awarded a platinum SmartScore certification. This is a global standard for smart buildings that recognises exceptional user experiences and cost efficiency, as well as high levels of sustainability and future readiness.
We were delighted to see the effort that went into designing and delivering this showcase building rewarded by its featuring on numerous shortlists for various prestigious awards, including:
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Sentinel Contracting plc
Unit 2a Guildprime Business Centre,
Southend Road Billericay,
Essex CM11 2PZ
