BW: Workplace Experts Complete Fit-Out of The Mills Fabrica’s London HQ

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• BW: Workplace Experts Complete Fit-Out of The Mills Fabrica’s London HQ

23 December 2021

BW: Workplace Experts has completed the fit-out of The Mills Fabrica’s London HQ for developer Endurance Land.

The project was comprised of both a CAT A and CAT B fit-out to Hong Kong-based sustainable incubator The Mills Fabrica’s base in London’s King’s Cross. The new 800 sqm headquarters has been carefully refurbished into a landmark innovation centre, driving the circular economy endeavours in the capital. 

Situated in the north-west corner of the Regent Quarter, the former Victorian factory and warehouse has been converted into a mixed-use development, transforming this industrial space into a modern, lively commercial environment.

The CAT A part of the works include new weatherproofing to the roof and capital plant, toilet facilities on all floors, new external stairs and access lift, new bike store and plant rooms and a new riser core. The building’s entrance has also been transformed, creating an inviting contemporary façade with new glazing applied to its black metal framed glass doors. These are set away from the traditional Victorian gateway which has been retained.

Picture: a photograph of a meeting table within the office. Image Credit: Philip Vile 

“Techstyle” Sector

The CAT B works, meanwhile, consist of an experiential concept store and innovation gallery for sustainable brands, a café, a tech lab for prototyping, flexible meeting rooms and workspace, plus a reception and multifunctional areas. The physical environment, plus the start-up incubation programme, demonstrates The Mills Fabrica’s dedication to cultivating a community of sustainable visionaries in the “techstyle” sector: where technology meets lifestyle.

The building, known as Cottam House, has served many industrial uses in the past before it became vacant in the 1980s. For this retrofit project, BW gave the space a high spec fit-out over a 24-week period. Corresponding with The Mills Fabrica’s work, which focuses on sustainable innovations, BW, working alongside project architects Barr Gazetas, retained and reused much of the building’s original fabric, bringing to light its dynamic industrial past. Some of the space’s stunning original industrial features that have been delicately preserved include exposed bricks throughout, recycled existing timber floors and bringing an 1850s timber soffit back to its former glory. 

First UK Base for The Mills Fabrica

The company also has a factory in Hong Kong, but the London HQ will be its first UK base. The new space honours the design of the Hong Kong factory which features glass brick along the main corridors and access spaces; this has been recreated in the London hub. This bridging of the east and west is also reflected in The Mills Fabrica’s work in running cross border incubation programmes for its techstyle entrepreneurs in both Hong Kong and the UK.

The fit-out spanned across a total of three floors. As visitors enter the building on the ground floor, they are greeted with a spacious showroom, café and entrance lobby. The ground floor, as well as the reception, multifunction space and the co-working area, also feature an elegant, poured cream sustainable terrazzo floor, with a bold black border, which complements the original industrial features and architectural work. Across the office areas and stairs, the space has been fitted out with reusable flooring, reclaimed from the earlier redevelopment of the building.

The first floor is where you will find the reception and flexible workspace for The Mills Fabrica’s staff, as well as a multifunctional area and meeting rooms, while the second floor has been fitted out with hotdesking, multiple offices, flexible meeting spaces and TechStyle space.

On the upper levels, office spaces have been reconfigured using Crittall partitioning and the aforementioned glass blockwork, allowing maximum daylight into the space, giving a more open and inviting feel.

Picture: a photograph of the foyer area. Image Credit: Philip Vile 

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 23 December 2021

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