The Brief

The site of Fortress House, former headquarters of English Heritage, was to be redeveloped into a 100,000 sq ft West End corporate headquarters. As a result of a severe lack of existing interior daylight penetration, our brief was to advise on how the addition of an atrium would increase interior daylight levels in order to improve the quality, letability and value of the building. We were asked to compare the efficiency of an atrium on the building’s façade to that of an atrium in the centre of the building, illustrated with a selection of suitable designs and shading solutions.

The Solution

Cutting edge software allowed us to carry out detailed analysis of the site. Using computer simulation and 3D modelling, we took light readings from inside the atrium cavity, the lobby and within the various deep floor plates of the building. This enabled us to find and then clearly demonstrate through visualisation the best solution to the client and design team.

Rather than provide just one single solution and atrium design, we worked closely with the architects throughout the design process to provide a variety of equally suitable designs with accompanying visual, numerical and graphic illustrations. These allowed the client a more comprehensive understanding of the solutions available and how each design would contribute to the development of the scheme. Based on our range of technical designs and solutions, the client chose to implement a front façade atrium. The final design not only created a beautiful, striking entrance for the building but significantly enhanced the daylight quality, and therefore human value, of the new building.

Special Features

1. While our brief was to provide a solution for increasing the level of interior daylight penetration, we additionally tested two different shading resolutions in order to mitigate solar gain and overheating.