Longcross, Cardiff

The details

Duration

16 months

Value

£1.6m

Area

29,000 sqft

The Brief

To breathe new life into the office space with a practical and contemporary design including improvements to the building’s overall energy performance and new facilities to directly benefit the occupiers of the building.

The Solution

The initial brief – which we secured through a competitive tender process – required us to provide design solutions for the existing Reception, 3rd and 4th floors as well as create a new co-working space and WC/Shower areas.

The scheme was evolved from early concept stage through to detailed design by engaging with the client team and end users closely to better understand and respond to their needs and expectations.

The reception and adjoining co-working space provide a professional, hotel-inspired solution mixing dark and light timber finishes with delicate and architectural lighting all against a harder exposed slab ceiling.

Detailing was key throughout with a stylish new reception desk, slatted screens, bespoke signage and teapoints all echoing a similar concept and look and feel, whilst designer furniture compliments the finish. New shower and changing facilities with WCs to the 1st floor completes the entrance level refurbishment.

The 3rd and 4th floors and accompanying WC refurbishment were designed as CAT A spaces, ready to be leased. These spaces follow the same mix of industrial and contemporary finishing as the entrance level. Whilst the WCs have also undergone a full refurbishment, upgrading from standard cubicle spaces to self-contained unisex ‘superloos’.

All new floor, wall and ceiling finishes have been included throughout the works as well as new mechanical and electrical installations. The building’s energy performance has been significantly enhanced through the installation of new PIR motion sensor activated Led lighting, removal of gas fired systems (to enable scope for transition to renewable energy) wherever feasible and the subsequent installation of a new energy efficient VRF air conditioning system. Improved mechanical ventilation has also been installed to the new co-working space and vacant office suites, to improve the air quality for the occupants and visitors.

To finish the scheme a collection of outdoor furniture, signage and landscaping works were instructed, further enhancing the building.

The challenges we faced during the project involved working in a multiple tenanted space and dealing with a larger building fire-stopping issue across the floor plates. Additionally, all works were completed during the Covid outbreak.

What the
client had
to say

In 2021, Trident (on behalf of our client Picton) appointed Paramount to undertake an extensive scope of internal office refurbishment works to the reception, toilets and vacant office suites on the 3rd and 4th floor at Longcross, Cardiff. This was undertaken on a design and build basis. Both Trident and our client have been delighted with the end result and the Paramount team have been a pleasure to work with – professional, responsive, communicative and diligent. Both the design and construction processes have been a smooth operation and the end result is a refurbishment that has met the client brief, within budget, including good management of works to an occupied (multi-tenanted) office building, requiring management and communication channels with a number of different stakeholders. As a result, we have instructed additional works to be undertaken to the building and are currently under discussions to negotiate directly with Paramount on further phases of works to improve the remaining un-refurbished parts of Longcross.

Daniel Brooks-Dowsett

Director - Trident

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