Skanska has completed the construction of The Copyright Building, located in the West End of London, for its customer Derwent London, with a value of £46 million.

Designed by Piercy & Company, the 9,800sqm scheme is a mixture of retail and office spaces. The ground floor provides 1,850sqm of retail space on Berners Street in Fitzrovia. There is 7,950sqm of fully fitted out category ‘A’ offices across seven floors, with two floors of roof terraces. 

Environmentally sensitive

The team achieved the BREEAM excellent environmental standard, using sustainable approaches throughout the construction phase and installing solar panels on the building’s green roof. 

Our in-house team combined their technical skills and knowledge in design, construction and mechanical and electrical engineering, to install the first fulling functioning chilled plasterboard ceiling in the UK. This innovative and energy-efficient ceiling, replaces traditional air conditioning systems, creating a quieter working environment because no fans are required.

Delivering results

The majority of the building’s structure was built using visual concrete, in particular the reception area has a double-height, waffle-slab that forms the ceiling of the main entrance. This was complex to build, but has resulted in a striking aesthetic finish.

The building’s facades differ dramatically: a brick faced pre-cast beam, supporting hand set brickwork with individual steel windows was installed along Berners Mews. On Berners Street, Travertine Stone, large aluminium windows and profiled bronze panels were used. These facades are independently supported from the in-situ concrete structural frame to reduce deflections and minimise the final joint sizes.

Committed to our customers

“Skanska delivered this complex project within budget, on time and to the high quality standards we set. Complex structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing challenges were overcome professionally, and the project team were a pleasure to work with during the tender and construction phases.

Any defects were handled promptly and the project was seen as a success by all stakeholders.”

Richard Baldwin – Head of Development, Derwent London.

“The team at Skanska worked tirelessly to ensure that the Copyright Building was a success from beginning to end. 

Their attention to detail ensured that the Piercy & Company vision was achieved, on time and to budget.  The use of Skanska’s in-house mechanical, electrical and plumbing services benefitted the whole project.

The end product is one that Derwent London is extremely proud of and one that ensured both the office and retail elements were pre-let before the project was completed.”

Jo Benson – Senior Project Manager, Derwent London

Keeping it local

The site office was situated in the Fitzrovia Centre, a community centre close to the project. During the construction work, a team of Skanska volunteers helped to transform the centre’s front entrance and garden areas. They sanded and painted a wooden gazebo, created new planters, trimmed bushes and planted flowers.