The Marq
- Client: The Crown Estate
- Contacts: Jason Rudolph
The Marq is a new tailored addition to Jermyn Street. The building comprises of 46,000 sq ft flexible office space and retail and restaurant space at ground and basement levels. Our client was The Crown Estate.
From the outset, the client’s aspirations and the team’s ambition was to create an exemplar building that focuses on sustainability, longevity and high-quality. Health and wellbeing are central principles and the scheme achieved a Gold rating for WELL Shell and Core Certification. The office space achieves BREEAM Outstanding and retail BREEAM Excellent.
Rolfe Judd Architecture were appointed post-planning to review and develop the consented scheme as designed by John McAslan + Partners. Various changes were approved as non-material amendments with Westminster council. These addressed key technical challenges and improved efficiency throughout.
Just like Beau Brummell, the street’s original Dandy, the building turns heads and captures the attention of on lookers with its gilded artwork and striking entrance gates. Artwork is provided in three locations. The imaginative installations include carved stonework with gilding to the exterior, stunning patinated bronze entrance gates and terrazzo artwork to the reception. They all link directly to the heritage of the area celebrating its rich history and continued use of tailoring. The artist was Jacqueline Poncelet, she explored dropping various threads and let them create their own paths. This was then recorded to provide a pattern as foundation of the design. The concept connects the fine tailoring with the bespoke nature giving uniqueness to it.
The external window design was carefully considered to provide all building users with views of the outdoors. A triple aspect arrangement captures varying sun levels with integrated internal shading providing users with control. The hive of activity on Piccadilly from residents, workers and tourists can be viewed from the splayed corner windows. This connection to the area’s vibrancy is also captured with other focused views out, creating a feel of belonging.
A series of post planning changes benefitted the scheme. The team assessed the buildings performance throughout all stages of the project. Plant was reconfigured to reduce the basement dig by a full storey. Shopfronts and the ground floor presence was reviewed with design officer and the client. New proposals integrated distinctive characteristics of the local context and improved opportunity in terms of visibility and signage for retailers. The core was repositioned to create an open plan that provides flexibility for tenants. With this arrangement the lifts open directly onto the floor plate and provided more options on leasing strategy.
The project was developed and delivered in the BIM environment. The design team and contractor handed over a detailed model on completion to assist with ongoing asset monitoring, maintenance and performance. The collaborative 3D approach helped on site coordination which improved efficiency. The cladding system was constructed off site and craned and stacked into place. The panels formed a weather tight envelope in just a few weeks. This had programme and quality assurance benefits.
Sustainability was high on the agenda from conception and the building has shown a 60% improvement against Building Regulation Part L2A:2013 target CO2 emission rate. The development was assessed under BREEAM 2014 and WELL Building Certification. The retail units achieved Excellent rating and the offices achieved Outstanding The Marq also achieved a WELL Shell and Core Gold certification.
Private external terraces on levels four and six are both south facing to take full advantage of the available sunlight. In addition, these spaces offer stunning views of the London skyline. With the added opportunity for tenants to install planters and furniture as desired.
Roofs are landscaped with bio-diverse planting and bird and bat boxes. Clean rainwater is harvested, filtered and reused to supply all WCs for flushing purposes throughout the building. Water supplied to amenity area outlets is potable with drinking / bottle fill points provided to allow occupants to stay hydrated. Renewable technologies consisting of air source heat pumps, photo voltaic and solar thermal panels contribute towards The Marq’s A rated EPC. High efficiency MERV 13 equivalent filters are used within the fresh air handling unit. A fully automated building energy management system allows full integration of the plant operation and energy meters with consumption of fuel, power and water being monitored throughout the building. There is a facility to remote monitor the system.
The experience of the people who use, explore, and engage with the development has been fundamental to the process. The building has been created to be environmentally sensitive, engaging, fun, flexible and a permanent statement interwoven in the historic fabric of the St James’s conservation area.
The office floor plate has been designed to encourage an open plan atmosphere, with simple clean lines providing an easy to read space, the use of simple geometry through the ceiling tiles and punch window shapes provide a human scale and relationship. Ceilings are set at 2.75 metres above the finished floor level, to provide a grand sense of scale and a sense of openness, light and air.
The WC corridors have timber veneer door sets and frames for a natural environmental feel. The use of natural materials throughout is one to which users can connect with. Marble, timber, and terrazzo finishes are carefully integrated. They alternate between cool and warm spaces to create differing atmospheres. The material palate & design was carefully considered to evoke a sense of delight as users pass through the building.