Phoenix completes fit-out at ISG headquarters

Jul 08

Phoenix Interiors has completed the £150,000 fit out of level six of Aldgate House, the impressive new London headquarters of international construction company ISG. The HQ brings together 200 staff from three London offices into one 25,000sq ft site located on a single floor of a 1960s office building in Aldgate, London. Mike Belsten, contracts manager at South London-based Phoenix, says: "We have worked extensively with ISG InteriorExterior, the interior and exterior contracting arm of ISG, since its inception as Stanhope Interior in 1989 so it is appropriate that we should be working on their own building.

"However, this placed considerable pressure on us to get the job right. All of ISG InteriorExterior's employees go in and out of that office at some stage and all will have their own opinions on the quality of the work." Phoenix Interiors installed new gridwork, but used the tiles from the existing SAS system 130 metal lay-in ceiling system at Aldgate House. Mr Belsten explains: "We took the existing tiles down, crated them up, left them stored on site and then replaced all the gridwork with new and then reinstated the ceiling panels. We also installed light boxes." The light boxes were placed in false roof lights and Phoenix commissioned Maidenhead-based Soltech Systems to install NewMat, a stretched fabric system for ceilings. NewMat comprises an opaque PVC membrane, which is stretched into a frame and then heated so that it shrinks to become a taut skin of material. Light fittings were mounted behind this material to create the impression of a roof light.

Phoenix also fitted plasterboard soffits and margins to create modular meeting spaces, and reception areas and corridors. Within the reception areas and meeting spaces, the company installed a bespoke metal lighting trough painted black to blend with the contemporary decor. Mr Belsten points to two particular challenges his company overcame: "There was a return air feature between the plasterboard and core walls so we created a slot in the plasterboard for the return air. We cloaked it carefully so that there was no light spillage. "Another problem we faced was with the Moduline single slot air grilles running through the ceiling every two metres or so. We had to reposition them to make them fit the new office configuration. This was work that we had not envisaged having to do, but we were able to carry it out within the original project timeframe." The result is impressive. Imaginative treatment of the reception, adjustable lighting, flexible space planning and extensive use of internal glazing, create an attractive, transparent office environment that effectively communicates ISG's culture of quality and innovation.

Welcoming and multi-functional, the reception area has been designed to resemble the foyer of a boutique hotel. Set within the generous timber floored space, is high bar seating for casual drinks and sofa seating with newspaper-laid coffee table for waiting, allowing the space to readily support informal meetings or, making use of the flexible lighting function as an elegant space for receptions celebrations or larger gatherings. Extending from reception, a timber "boardwalk" runs the entire width of the plan from the north to the south perimeter creating a generous open space that serves as the social centre of the office. Meeting room suites are housed within a 150ft long glass pavilion running the length of the office. Glass panels in various shades from ISG's corporate colour palette are designed to provide privacy and visual interest. Timber openings punch through the glass pavilion connecting spaces, framing views of London and providing informal meeting areas, suggestive of informal outdoor style space. Although the area was unoccupied during the fit out, Mr Belsten says his company was under considerable time pressure. "It was a 14-week project start to finish. We were on site for four weeks. We had a week per zone to start and finish. We went in initially to strip out, allowed the other trades to do their work and once the m&e part of the project was done we came back in and reinstated. It was done in four zones so we never actually went away. We finished on time with minimal disruption."

Phoenix Interiors has worked with ISG on a number of high profile projects in the banking, legal and corporate sectors including financial giants Royal Bank of Scotland, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and leading international law firm Slaughter & May as well as the stunning new Eurostar train terminal at St Pancras station. Mr Belsten concludes: "We have a close, co-operative working relationship with ISG. Working with them for more than 18 years means we must be doing something right. We have always completed on time and the quality of the work is consistently high." With a proven track record for the highest quality suspended ceiling installations, specialising in bespoke metal grid systems, chilled ceilings and GRG work, Phoenix Interiors also provides office refurbishments and fit outs for clients requiring a personal service. The company's projects division offers comprehensive mechanical and electrical services, providing replacement and upgrade of plant and m&e equipment.