ISG Takes £52 Million Project to Refurbish Former BBC World Service HQ

ISG has been awarded a circa £52 million project by Japanese owner Kato Kagaku Co. Ltd to substantially refurbish the iconic former home of the BBC World Service – Bush House in central London. One of the largest commercial office refurbishment schemes to be awarded in 2013, the completed project, which encompasses four buildings on site, will be renamed the Aldwych Quarter.

The project sees ISG deliver over 300,000 sq. ft. of lettable high specification Cat A office accommodation across the four buildings and central courtyard with under-croft, that make up the Aldwych Quarter. ISG will sensitively strip out the buildings to shell and core and comprehensively upgrade and modernise the internal space, installing new mechanical and electrical services, replacing 14 of the existing lifts and delivering an additional lift to enhance accessibility.

Three of the buildings are targeting a BREEAM Excellent environmental performance rating and ISG will achieve significant sustainable enhancements through improved insulation and the highly efficient services installation. The contractor will re-roof all four buildings, clean the façades, carry out masonry repairs and replace a number of windows as part of an external envelope package of works. Numerous architecturally listed elements will also be cleaned, repaired and preserved, including the Bush House portico, staircases and lobby areas.

ISG will reconfigure and rationalise space across all four buildings to create a contemporary open plan office layout. The Cat A fit out includes the installation of raised access floors and suspended ceilings, four new high specification reception areas, new cycle facilities and toilets. The programme has been carefully designed to enable the phased handover of accommodation, enabling the marketing agent, Jones Lang LaSalle, the opportunity to provide potential tenants with flexible occupation scenarios.

Paul Cossell, managing director of ISG Fit Out, commented: “A key factor in our appointment to the Aldwych Quarter development was our innovative and flexible delivery programme, providing a significant reduction in project duration. Our phased handover strategy allows earlier than anticipated occupation of key areas of the development, providing an attractive potential revenue boost for our client.

“The Aldwych Quarter scheme represents an excellent win for the business and reinforces our high quality delivery credentials as London’s leading commercial office fit out specialist. Our expertise delivering complex, large-scale projects within architecturally sensitive environments will undoubtedly prove critical in the successful completion of this landmark London office development.“

Nick Hann; Tel: 07970 275251; Email: nick.hann@isgplc.com

ISG Plc is an international construction services company delivering fit out, construction and a range of specialist services, with 31 offices worldwide. The company works with owners, developers and occupiers in the public and private sector for an extensive range of industries.  ISG Plc was established in 1989 and has been quoted on AIM since 1998. Today the company has a turnover of around £1.1 billion.

For further information about ISG please visit our website www.isgplc.com