We were asked by a relatively new but highly successful commercial film company to prepare a scheme to fit out an empty shell as their HQ in a new development opposite Greenwich Docklands Light Railway station.
The budget was tight (less than £20k) and the major challenge was the ground floor access via a small lobby en-suite to the open studio space at 1st floor level. A master-plan was needed that set out a range of options for future planned (and unplanned!) specialist rooms but which operated effectively on an almost open plan basis from day 1, thus avoiding future abortive costs.
The use of exposed cable trays reduced costs, maximised flexibility, and simple uplights laid in the trays provide a great working ambience for editors, free of glare.
Sensitive negotiations were required with Greenwich Council’s Building Control department over ‘Part M’ disabled access, especially since installing a lift of any kind would have blown the budget.
Investment in early and detailed dialogue with officers, and our very clear understanding of the regulations, meant that we achieved all the measures we had targeted.
What the clients said:
“Stephen Waldron Architects came alongside us as a small but rapidly growing film production company. He understood our needs and the critical timing key to successful seamless transition for the company between locations. At the same time our budget was ridiculously tight! We couldn’t afford to wait for complex and lengthy local authority negotiations over means of scape and disabled access to this first floor studio space that our agents had warned us of and his negotiations had to be right first time.
With a competitive fee, they were able to produce creative, effective and flexible solutions to all our many problems coming in fast succession. The result is a team here that love the sense of space; our clients often comment on how different our offices feel to visit.
We will definitely be working with Stephen Waldron Architects again and highly recommend him.
Simon Kreitem, Director
