City: London

A Fusion of History and Innovation

King’s College London’s historic Strand Campus required additional academic space to meet diverse teaching, learning, and research needs. The 21st Century Engineering Quadrangle Project emerged to create new teaching facilities while preserving architectural heritage. Four distinct buildings enclose the courtyard, each contributing to the site’s unique character. Somerset House’s 18th-century east wing, designed by William Chambers, joined the college in 2010. Facing it stands Robert Smirke’s King’s Building, the university’s original home. A segment of Somerset House overlooks the River Thames to the south, connecting the campus to the historic waterfront. To the north, on the bustling Strand, a 1972 brutalist addition represents a different era of architecture.

Our engineering team played a pivotal role by providing mechanical and electrical engineering services for this subterranean transformation of the Quadrangle into engineering research laboratories and teaching spaces. Balancing modern academic needs with historical significance was a challenge.

Building for Flexibility

Client considerations emphasised flexibility and adaptability—the new facility needed to accommodate a wide range of practical activities, both current and future. Creating high-quality, adaptable academic spaces was the goal.

Operating in an Active Campus

Operating within an active campus required phased construction and close stakeholder coordination. Acoustic testing and impact assessments minimised disruptions during construction. We also focused on low-maintenance, low-noise solutions and adapted to the constraints posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The King’s College London Quadrangle project is a testament to the fusion of modern engineering excellence with historical preservation. It showcases the commitment to innovation and sustainability in higher education amidst a backdrop of architectural heritage.

Key Features:

• Redevelopment of the central Quadrangle and its subterranean academic spaces.
• Sustainable design achieving a SKA Gold rating.
• Low maintenance, low noise solutions with integrated chilled beams and specialist lighting.
• The development adds almost 3,000 square meters over two floors, providing a new teaching home for King’s Department of Engineering.

Awards:

• Building Magazine Awards 2023, Retrofit/Refurbishment Project of the Year category (winner).
• Architectural Heritage Intervention (AHI) European Awards 2023, Built Heritage category (shortlisted).
• Architects’ Journal Retrofit Awards 2023, Higher Education and Campus Award and the Listed Building £5m and Over Awards (shortlisted).

Client: King’s College London

Services:

• MEP Engineering
• Acoustics
• Energy and Sustainability

London Luton Airport Ltd is preparing to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application to increase the permitted capacity of the airport from 18 million passengers per annum to 32 million by 2039.

In our role as Technical Advisor we are supporting London Luton Airport Ltd. to plan and design a new terminal, rail link, airside infrastructure, road network improvements, business park and country park. Significantly, the project includes an earthworks shift of around five million cubic metres and complex construction phasing requirements. The wide range of multidisciplinary services we’re delivering includes master planning, PMO, airfield design, surface access modelling, architecture, environmental services, construction services and more.

It is expected that the DCO application to the UK government will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in mid-2020.

Opened in 2014, London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2 (T2) is currently supported by an ageing baggage system at the now closed Terminal 1. Anticipating a surge in passenger numbers over the next decades, the Future T2 program will create a new advanced baggage system within the existing T2 site, providing fast and efficient baggage handling while building capacity for future growth.

Involved since inception, we have delivered design and project management services to progress the program through the optioneering phase. We assessed 50 options for how to integrate a new baggage system into a heavily constrained live site – amongst existing buildings, infrastructure and services – without disrupting operations and passengers. Our solution will clear existing infrastructure so that a 280m x 130m x 30m deep excavation site can be built to install a new £900m advanced baggage system. The option received buy-in from all Heathrow executive teams and 19 airline stakeholders.

Working collaboratively with Heathrow as one single team, we are focussed on finding the best and most innovative solutions to deliver this complex multifaceted program. This has involved drawing on AECOM’s wide-ranging specialist skills in project management, structural engineering, architecture, lean construction, tunnelling, digital delivery, design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA), visualisation technology, process automation, and more.

We will continue to support the program until 2027.

The Northern Hub rail programme includes the eradication of the Manchester bottleneck via the new Ordsall Chord rail link which for the first time connects all five of Manchester’s city centre railway stations reducing railway congestion and allowing new passenger services to run to create wide economic benefits across the north west of England.

The Ordsall Chord Viaduct is the iconic centrepiece at the heart of the Ordsall Chord, the United Kingdom’s first network arch rail bridge which sits next to major heritage structures, part of the historic 1830 Liverpool to Manchester Railway, the world’s first inter-city railway.

The project was delivered under a design-build alliance and AECOM provided design services within an AECOM Mott MacDonald Joint Venture. AECOM secured BS11000 Collaborative Business Relationships Standard accreditation for the Project, having established and developed joint working practices within the AECOM Mott MacDonald JV that enabled the two organizations to work truly collaboratively with each other and with the Alliance.

The Ordsall Chord involves extensive and varied structures, many of which are highly complex geometrically to satisfy architectural requirements. The design across all engineering disciplines was undertaken using extensive state-of-the-art Building Information Modelling (BIM). Early involvement of both the main contractor and steel fabricator has allowed conventional roles and processes to be challenged. Some of the steel fabricator’s staff were co-located within AECOM’s office allowing thus allowing the design model to feed directly into the steelwork fabrication model. For one structure, drawings were dispensed with entirely and this structure was built directly from the 3d model.

Adoption of these methodologies has supported successful delivery of structures with challenging geometric interfaces between steelwork, concrete, and existing brickwork arches. This has reduced programme and safety risks during fabrication and installation, improved efficiency and will provide a platform for enhanced management of the structural assets in the future.

‘The alliancing model was ideally suited to delivery of this complex project built within the constraints of a historic railway dating back to 1830. The collaborative ethos of the project was demonstrated in that Network Rail allowed the designers to self-certify and the close working relationship between the designer, main contractor and their suppliers allowed new ways of working.’ says John Longthorne, AECOM Major Project Director.

A temporary housing scheme for 24 homeless families, PLACE/Ladywell is the result of a partnership with Lewisham Council, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) and AECOM. Adopting an off-site volumetric modular solution, the project was delivered to a faster program, compared to traditional construction, and is now a benchmark for the delivery of modular housing across London.

Arranged in three four-storey blocks, PLACE/Ladywell is intended to remain on site for between one and four years. The key objective was the delivery of housing to support Lewisham’s housing needs, however the design and delivery of the project has provided much wider benefits. Internally, the spaces exceed current local authority standards by 10 percent; community and retail use at ground level enable the community to thrive; and with the manufacturing and assembly process inherent in the modular solution, control over quality, finish and programme enabled over 95 percent of the project to be delivered off-site, and has reduced running costs, in use, by up to 50 percent.

AECOM and RSHP, continue to work together to provide housing solutions using an offsite volumetric system, INNO. Find out more here.

The United Kingdom’s rail ridership has seen an increase of more than 100 percent over the last 20 years.

To meet this existing and future demand, the Wessex Capacity Alliance delivered a $568.7M USD enhancement between 2014 and 2019. This program increased capacity by 30 percent on the Wessex rail route, including at the United Kingdom’s busiest railway station with nearly 100 million annual passengers, London Waterloo. It was delivered under a design-build alliance and provides a bigger and better Waterloo with lengthened and new platforms, other station improvements and rail systems upgrades.

AECOM, as Lead Designer and Alliance Member, provided a wide range of engineering, architectural and consultancy services with a large portion of the design team co-located with the contractor and the client. We provided the Contractor’s Engineering Manager (CEM) and had responsibility for integrating all design and construction works within the Alliance. Close working relationships were developed with Network Rail’s asset engineers allowing a streamlined approvals methodology, thus driving a lean approach and saving approximately six months of design time and associated costs. BIM was used extensively to drive efficiency and the safety agenda and was used for detailed staging plans for a successful 24-day blockade at Waterloo Station. Our team also implemented an integrated approach to sustainability across all project phases, leading to a CEEQUAL Excellent rating.

Bloomberg’s European headquarters is located in the heart of the City of London, is the company’s first, wholly-owned and designed building in the world – planned to facilitate collaboration and fuel innovation. Awarded a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating, Bloomberg’s building is the world’s most sustainable office space, by design. The 3.2 acre site is home to 4,000 Bloomberg employees, and encompasses three public plazas, 1.1 million square foot of office and retail space and the restored Roman Temple of Mithras. It is also the RIBA 2018 Stirling Prize winner, the UK’s most prestigious architectural awards.

Bloomberg Place was constructed with both its geographical location and environmental sustainability in mind. Built on the historical site of the Roman temple of Mithras, the building houses a permanent exhibition testament to this historical heritage. Additionally, the site build made every effort to be sustainable and environmentally conscious. With these strategies in mind, Bloomberg Place seeks to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating. The site runs parallel to the Waterloo & City line over a length of 133m, extensive monitoring was required during the basement construction. The proximity with the tube line has resulted in the construction of a new ticket office to connect into the line as part of the Bank Station upgrades.

The main Victorian brick sewer also traverses the site requiring the foundations and structure to be designed to allow this to bridge over the sewer. In order to facilitate this series of monitoring measures AECOM were put in place, our role included the condition surveys of the sewer. The sewer is 2.4m diameter and runs full bore which has meant even carrying out the surveys were not without difficulty, these required shut off periods where the sewer could be drained down to allow access.

The headquarters are effectively split between the north and south building, which share a common basement and are connected via link bridges on the upper levels. The fit out space is bespoke to client’s needs, with specialist areas such as lunch rooms, dining rooms, an auditorium, and media and pantry areas amongst others, supporting the open plan office space.

AECOM provided a key role in taking this high profile development to planning, working closely with the client team, the design team and the City of London to ensure a robust Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out. The site originally had an extant planning consent for an office and retail-led development. We worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure that the impacts of the then proposed Bloomberg Place scheme were presented against the cleared site and in comparison to the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the previously consented scheme.

AECOM provided Cost Management and CDM Co-ordination services on the Bloomberg project. This included both the shell and core and complete end-user fit-out of the building. The project was procured via a construction management form of procurement, with over 100 trade packages being either tendered or negotiated with.

AECOM worked closely with both the design team and the trades, to ensure that the bespoke nature of the works, were procured both on time and within budget and importantly meets the required level of specification and quality that was required.

• Scenic lifts – a bespoke design which has no cables to allow the flow of light
• LED lighting – designed to look like petals
• Bespoke desks – designed into circles to enable multiple configuration types
• Vacuum flush toilets
• Largest pieces of grooved glass in the world

Due to the prevailing market conditions and the nature of the works, it was imperative to work collaboratively with the team to identify and secure suitable and interested trade contractors to undertake some of the more specialist work. The pre-tender analysis proved invaluable to ensuring the right calibres of Tier 1 trade contractors were involved with the project.

AECOM services:

• Cost management
• CDM Coordination
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Awards:

• RIBA Stirling Prize 2018
• BCO National Awards 2018 – Winner ‘Best Corporate Workplace’ and ‘Best of the Best’
• BCO London Awards 2018 – Winner ‘Best Corporate Workplace’
• London Design Awards 2017 – Silver Winner ‘Architecture – Commercial – Constructed’
• UK Tekla Awards 2015 – Winner ‘Miscellaneous Category’
• London Planning Awards – Winner ‘Best Mixed Use Scheme’
• BREEAM Awards 2018 Commercial Project – Design Award
• BREEAM Awards 2018 Regional Awards – Western Europe
• Property Week Awards – Winner ‘Occupier of the Year’
• D&AD Awards – Yellow Pencil / Spatial Design / Exhibition Design
• Lighting Design Awards – Winner ‘Global Project of the Year’
• Lighting Design Awards – Winner ‘Workplace Project of the Year’
• LABC London Building Excellence Awards – Winner ‘Best Inclusive Building’
• RIBA Regional Award – Winner ‘London’
• Finishes & Interiors Sector Awards (FIS) – Winner ‘Partitioning category Gold’
• Finishes & Interiors Sector Awards (FIS) – Winner ‘Fibrous and GRG new build Gold’
• Lumen Awards – Winner ‘Award of Excellence’
• AJ100 Awards – Client of the Year
• New London Architecture Awards – Offices Built Winner
• The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects – ‘The City of London Building of the Year 2018’

The multi award-winning Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital, London has some of the best medical equipment in Europe and brings most of Guy’s and St Thomas’ cancer treatment and research under one roof. Previously cancer care was provided in 13 different locations in eight different buildings on the St Thomas’ and Guy’s sites. The £160 million Centre is the culmination of more than 10 years of planning and working in partnership with patients to create a building to transform cancer care.

The 14-storey building’s medical equipment includes six linear accelerators which are the first radiotherapy machines in Europe to treat patients above ground level. This aims to help patients feel more comfortable in natural light and air.  The construction of an Innovation Hub within the Centre brings treatment and research together at the Cancer Centre and the space is used by King’s College London researchers to grow their Experimental Medicine Programme.

The complex building was delivered on time, to budget and without causing major disruption to the local community or the hospital’s patients. With collaboration key to the successful delivery, AECOM’s approach to providing an integrated service offering for project and cost management went beyond the ‘contractual’ role, enabling our experts to embed themselves within the client’s organisation from the start, working with the wider team throughout the project, tracking actions in real time and actively managing risks and resolving issues in a very proactive manner.

White Collar Factory, is an ambitious, multi-award winning office development located at the heart of the ‘silicon roundabout’ technology quarter, and close to London’s vibrant financial district.

AECOM delivered a range of building services for the new development, a c.293,000 sq ft building comprising commercial workspace, residential and retail facilities. The office building also features the UK’s first running track for employees to use on-site, located on the fifteenth floor of the sixteen-floor space. There is also a rooftop bar with fantastic views of London for employees to enjoy.

AECOM delivered cost management, monitoring and peer review of services, sustainability, lifts, fire, acoustics, ITC, facades and security for the project. AECOM reviewed LEED and BREEAM, and the scheme was subsequently awarded LEED Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding, as well as Wired Score Platinum. The project was designed by architectural practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and delivered by developer Derwent London.

White Collar Factory produces 25% less carbon over current building regulations. The building was designed with tall ceilings for increased volume and flexibility in use and adaptation, increased natural daylight and ventilation penetration, as well as even distribution of artificial lighting.

The building also has smart servicing, including maximum possible use of passive systems, natural day lighting and ventilation. A simple façade provides effective shading where necessary, as well as openable windows and variable glazing aligned to building orientation.

Flexible floor plates offer the potential for two-way split tenancy per flor or optional voids between floors to connect tenancies. A high thermal mass structure was used to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building.

David Thornley, Director, AECOM, said: “We are proud to have been involved with such an iconic and revolutionary project. The result is a ready-to-go workspace that can be easily adapted and refined to suit business needs and changes, achieved in a sustainable, cost effective way.”

Tenants already in occupation at the building include Adobe, AKTII, BGL, Box.com, Capital One, Runpath, Spark44, The Office Group and Workshop Coffee.

Awards:

• RICS National Awards 2018 – Winner ‘Commercial’ category
• RICS London Region 2018 – Winner ‘Commercial’  category
• BCO National Awards 2018 – Winner ‘Innovation’ category and Highly Commended ‘Commercial Workplace’ category
• BCO London Region Awards 2018 – Winner of the ‘Innovation and ‘Commercial Workplace’ categories