{"id":769989,"date":"2025-01-20T07:58:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T07:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=769989"},"modified":"2025-01-20T12:33:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T12:33:04","slug":"jra-refurbishes-former-sony-pictures-headquarters-in-soho","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/jra-refurbishes-former-sony-pictures-headquarters-in-soho","title":{"rendered":"JRA refurbishes former Sony Pictures headquarters in Soho"},"content":{"rendered":"

The building, designed by Nimmo & Partners to replace the 1930s Associated British Pictures Corporation\u2019s headquarters, which previously stood on the site, has been expanded by John Robertson Architects to offer 2,739m2<\/sup> of office space over eight floors. The increase in floorspace was enabled by removing rooftop plant screen to create an additional office level and partially infilling the rear courtyard.<\/p>\n

The refurbishment respects the character of the surrounding heritage area. New mansard roofs on the upper floors echo the style of neighbouring buildings. The main entrance has been redesigned with changes to the fa\u00e7ade at the corner of Golden Square and the ground floor now includes a larger reception area and a flexible retail unit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Terraces have been added on several floors, including a communal rooftop terrace with seating and planters, creating a verdant space in a dense urban area. The building\u2019s exterior uses neutral materials to blend in with the historic surroundings: Portland stone, dark-grey aluminium panels and zinc cladding. Public art from the original fa\u00e7ade has been retained, depicting the site\u2019s history from becoming the home of distinguished 19th<\/sup>-century surgeon John Hunter to its more recent connections with the film industry.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

Architect\u2019s view<\/h2>\n

30 Golden Square highlights JRA\u2019s retro-first approach. The key design move has been the re-imagining of the building services strategy to create both an additional floor of accommodation and a communal roof terrace with fantastic views over Golden Square and Soho. The design and materiality tie the building back into the fabric and history of the site and has been well received by tenants looking for best-in-class facilities.
\nFestus Moffat, director, John Robertson Architects<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Project data<\/h2>\n

Gross floor area<\/strong> 4417m2<\/sup>
\nForm of contract<\/strong> Design and Build
\nConstruction cost<\/strong> \u00a314.2 million
\nConstruction cost per m2<\/sup><\/strong> \u00a33,215
\nArchitect<\/strong> John Robertson Architects
\nClient<\/strong> Aviva Investors
\nProject manager<\/strong> Alban
\nPlanners<\/strong> Gerald Eve
\nPrincipal designer<\/strong> Lesley Clark
\nCommunity consultants<\/strong> Concillio
\nStructural engineer<\/strong> Taylor Whalley Spyra
\nCost consultant<\/strong> Madlins
\nHeritage consultant<\/strong> Kevin Murphy Heritage
\nSustainability consultant<\/strong> Cundall
\nBuilding control officer<\/strong> Socotec
\nLighting consultant<\/strong> GIA Equation
\nM&E consultant and sustainability consultant<\/strong> Cundall
\nFire engineering<\/strong> Consultant Trenton Fire
\nFa\u00e7ade consultant<\/strong> Thornton Tomasetti
\nAcoustic consultant<\/strong> Cundall
\nMain contractor<\/strong> Structuretone<\/p>\n

Environmental performance data<\/h2>\n

Airtightness at 50Pa<\/strong> 9.49 m3<\/sup>\/h.m2
\n<\/sup>DHW heating demand<\/strong> 14,534 kWh\/yr
\nTotal regulated emissions (Part L 2013 Baseline (TER))<\/strong> 98 tonnes CO2<\/sub>\/yr
\nTotal regulated emissions (Be Lean)<\/strong> 77.2 tonnes CO2<\/sub>\/yr
\nTotal energy demand<\/strong> 336.9 MWh\/yr<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The building, designed by Nimmo & Partners to replace the 1930s Associated British Pictures Corporation\u2019s headquarters, which previously stood on the site, has been expanded by John Robertson Architects to offer 2,739m2 of office space over eight floors. The increase in floorspace was enabled by removing rooftop plant screen to create an additional office level …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17128,"featured_media":771125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[706],"tags":[2983,1333,1342,4018],"yoast_head":"\nJRA refurbishes former Sony Pictures headquarters in Soho<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"John Robertson Architects (JRA) has reconfigured 30-31 Golden Square, just north of Piccadilly Circus in central London, as offices for client Aviva Investors\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/jra-refurbishes-former-sony-pictures-headquarters-in-soho\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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