A landmark building in the heart of London has been refurbished, utilising the latest in steel glazing technology to maximise natural daylight and meet modern security requirements.
The Grade II Listed building in Whitehall Place, Westminster occupies the former site of Scotland Yard; the original headquarters of the Metropolitan Police at a time when the famous, if fictional, Sherlock Holmes and the infamous Jack the Ripper were on the prowl.
The current building, which dates from the 1950s, has been completely refurbished to provide 135,000 ft² of government offices in an area adjacent to Westminster and several other government departments.
Within the ten-storey building – only the façade is being retained – Wright Style Ltd, the steel glazing systems supplier, has provided 700 sq² of its advanced T-Series curtain walling, to form a secure four-sided internal atrium and light-well – a focal architectural feature within the main entrance to the building. Comprising large spans and security enhancements, the results achieved are aesthetically stunning.
Combining aesthetic properties normally associated with aluminium and the structural strength of steel profiles, the T-Series curtain walling system allows for large expanses of glazing to be safely and cost-effectively achieved, without the need for secondary support assemblies.
The company has also been at the forefront in developing and successfully testing highly-specialised blast-resistant systems, allowing architects and designers to incorporate large spans of glass into their designs, for even the most sensitive of buildings.
The redeveloped Whitehall Place provides a good example of what can now be achieved when specialist glass and a high-performing steel glazing system are utilised together. The result is aesthetically stunning: a safe and secure glass structure that even Sherlock Holmes would have approved of.