OFFICE+: The Huntingdon Estate, a case study
Morris+Company’s OFFICE+ ‘benchmarks’ set out a range of ambitious qualitative objectives in the delivery of future facing workplace schemes, such as forging links to local and global communities beyond the building occupiers, and being generous with space to encourage casual encounters. These objectives prioritise sustainability goals and the environmental impact of materials, integrating biodiversity throughout and embracing adaptation through careful decision making at detail and build phases, while also integrating technologies to facilitate flexible and dynamic working patterns.
Our scheme for the Huntingdon Estate, a 150,000sqft office, targets all of the OFFICE+ benchmarks by creating a best-in-class workplace. As well as its architecture, the Huntington Estate will be celebrated for the cultural and programmatic contribution it makes to Shoreditch now, and for many generations to follow; a modern interpretation of Shoreditch's robust warehouse typology, it is designed to conserve and enhance the rich local architectural history through its form and material palette.
Of note in the design is a fluid ground-scape and generous communal spaces which encourage interaction with the city on all four sides, including an internal street connecting the southern aspect to the eastern. The building is wrapped in rich seasonal planting which flourishes on ledges, loggias and terraces serving each floor, as well as a generous landscaped roof complete with year-round pavilion. The retained existing building fabric integrates with the newer spaces, providing a range of large plan and small-scale adaptive floorplates, incorporating Grade A spaces mixed with affordable workspaces, attracting a range of tenants from office workers to creative industries and makers alike.
In addition, the Huntingdon Estate targets ambitious environmental credentials including BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, WIRED Platinum, NABERS 5 Star, and a raft of measures to drive as close to on site NET ZERO as is realistic and feasible. Resilience to future climate change is integrated, alongside facilities promoting sustainable means of transport.