Behind the hoardings at 5 Chancery Lane is a dedicated team helping bring this unique heritage refurbishment to life, balancing the preservation of a historic building with the delivery of a striking contemporary addition to the London skyline.Â
Waris Wasay, assistant design manager, has found the complexity of the scheme one of its most rewarding aspects. “It’s more complex than previous projects I’ve worked on because we’re working with an existing heritage building. Preserving the original structure while progressing the design forward has been really interesting. Some of the existing details are very intricate, so there’s a huge learning opportunity. Because it’s a smaller building, you take ownership of an entire section, which comes with a big responsibility.”
For graduate design manager James Ip, the refurbishment has provided valuable exposure to both design coordination and project delivery. “With my architecture background, it’s been satisfying bridging that experience into design management. Because the project is more compact, I’ve been able to clearly see the shell, core and staircase areas come together. I’ve also gained more experience reviewing packages, samples and understanding the contractual side of the project.”
Assistant project manager Jason Nicolau has been focused on keeping the programme moving while navigating major structural changes. “The dome structure is probably the most unique and complicated aspect of the project. Originally is has designed in timber before changing to steel, which required extensive investigation works. Losing the original architect, engineer and M&E consultant at the same time was a huge challenge, but bringing in new consultants also brought new ideas and a deeper understanding of how this hybrid structure works.”
For project director Derek Gillam, the project’s defining feature in the relationship between the historic and contemporary elements. “The glass done is incredibly bespoke. It’s a real balance between the original 1910 building and the new contemporary roof structure within a conservation area. There have been significant design and structural challenges along the way, but the team has been fantastic throughout. I’m really looking forward to seeing the glazing installed and eventually revealing the finished building when the scaffolding comes down.”
Senior quantity surveyor Shane Styles joined the project during a period of major change and has helped steer the commercial side through evolving structural requirements. “There have been a lot of roof changes and plenty to coordinate with subcontractors. I expected smooth sailing when I joined, but it’s actually been a really positive challenge that’s kept me on my toes. It’s going to look great when it’s finished.”
Senior M&E manager Andy Fitzpatrick has enjoyed seeing modern systems integrated into a building with decades of history. “The last major refurbishment was back in the 1980’s, so combining new services with an older building has been really interesting. The glazed dome is completely unique to the area and will really stand out on the skyline. The mix of old and new comes together seamlessly, and the views from the top, including the roof garden, will be incredible.”