Wakemans acted as employer’s agent and quantity surveyor on behalf of Kier Property, Kier Group’s development arm, responsible for the £38.7m project which was welcomed in Parliament by Jack Straw, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; he said: “The renovation of Middlesex Guildhall has now been completed on time and within budget by Kier Group plc. This is a major milestone in the development of a Supreme Court for the United Kingdom.
“This renovation has breathed new life into a previously tired building, which sits in one of the most historic and recognisable public spaces in the world. The renovation work shave been completed to the highest standard, as appropriate for its setting and required for a Grade II* listed building.”
The Grade II listed building in Parliament Square has been adapted for use by the UK Supreme Court – the highest court in the country – and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council because the 70,000 sq ft space is well suited to its needs and the renovation has helped to preserve an historic London building for future generations.
“The Law Lords, Westminster City Council, English Heritage and other interest groups were all involved at the planning stage to ensure the character of the building was maintained.” says Wakemans director Seinde Balogun. He added that the construction project had been completed within the allotted time and to budget as well as being finished to a very high standard. “This is a project that all involved can be justifiably proud to have played a part and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to its successful conclusion”, he concluded.
Many of the original features and fittings have been retained – including ornate ceilings that were hidden away as part of remodelling works in the 1980s – to restore the building to its original grandeur.
Better use has been made of natural light inside with the reinstatement of the building’s original lightwells, helping to show off the newly refurbished stained glass and wood panelling at its best.
Refurbishment of the 70,000sq ft structure, which was built between 1906 and 1913, included the extensive repair and cleaning of its ornate neo gothic stone façade, complete roof renewal, the formation of a new library and a new court, as well as the sensitive integration of IT and other services within the listed building fabric to serve the needs of a modern office environment.
In spite of the constraints presented by the nature of the existing building the redevelopment has been built to a high level of sustainability and achieved a BREEAM rating of VERY GOOD.
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