Two major new London fit-out contracts for ISG

Multinational fit-out and construction firm ISG has won a contract for the fit-out of clothing retailer Arcadia’s UK headquarters near Oxford Street in London and is believed to have won a £50 million contract to fit out the ‘Baby Shard’ at London Bridge for Rupert Murdoch’s News UK. The £32 million Arcadia project for the reinvention of Colegreave House, designed by Sheppard Robson, involves the fit-out of four storeys and 155,000 sq. ft. of the existing building. Staff at the firm responsible for High Street brands such as Dorothy Perkins, Top Shop and Burton will remain in situ for the duration of the phased project which includes the installation of glazed roofs over the atria at the heart of the building to provide new community areas for staff.

The Cat B fit out programme, incorporates a comprehensive strip out of the existing accommodation, to replace all mechanical and electrical services with modern efficient systems, raising the building’s BREEAM environmental performance rating to ‘very good’. Floors three to five feature mainly open plan office space, with a number of cellular offices and break out areas. The interior design brief for the office has an ‘exposed surfaces’ theme and ISG will be stripping out suspended ceilings to reveal exposed concrete soffits with visible ductwork within many of the office areas.

Structural alterations will be carried out across the sixth floor to create enhanced circulation space and improved sight lines via the removal of a number of supporting columns. Within the executive area of Arcadia’s headquarters, ISG will deliver an exacting and high specification fit out, which includes the installation of new curtain walling, boardrooms and executive offices.

Although not architecturally protected, the building incorporates a number of internal features that are of special interest, including a marble staircase with decorative metal balustrades, which ISG will protect during the project and sensitively restore to original condition. The project has commenced this week and is scheduled for completion in summer 2015.Arcadia boss Sir Philip Green said: “All of us here at Arcadia Head Office are excited by the prospect of this innovative and dynamic HQ. Our design teams have worked closely with ISG, Sheppard Robson and Gardiner & Theobold to create a space that draws on our experience as fashion retailers and look forward to creating a truly 21st century working environment.”

Paul Cossell, managing director of ISG’s fit out business, added: “We continue to be encouraged by noticeable improvements in the volume, scale and quality of London commercial office fit out projects reaching the market. ISG is taking a leading position in securing some of the capital’s most prestigious projects and adding Arcadia’s UK headquarters to our growing portfolio is an excellent result and further reinforces our expertise and high quality delivery credentials.”

Meanwhile a report in Building magazine claims that ISG has also won the contract for the fit-out of the 428,000 sq. ft. 17-storey The Place building designed by Shard architect Renzo Piano. The new building will be home to all of News UK’s London based operations for The Times, The Sun and Dow Jones. According to Building both ISG and News UK are yet to confirm the deal.