Designed by Sir Michael and Patty Hopkins for David Mellor CBE and later acquired by Sir Terence Conran, 22 Shad Thames has been reimagined by Squire & Partners into 16,000 sqft of contemporary workspace.
Built in 1991, 22 Shad Thames has been recently Grade II listed as an exemplar of High-Tech architecture. Located in a historic riverside location near Tower Bridge, the six-floor building was originally a creative studio and home for Mellor, who handmade and hand finished many of the building’s non-structural elements. In 1996, Conran transformed it into the headquarters for his design, retail, and restaurant businesses.
Alongside funding partner Amazon Capital and development manager Lateral, Squire & Partners have repurposed the building into high-quality workspace, modernising the existing fabric and improving its sustainability credentials.
Client Lateral and Amazon Capital
Project Manager PBC
MEP Engineer DSA
Main Contractor XConstruct
Planning & Heritage Consultant Montagu Evans
Structural Engineer Webb Yates
Branding Siren Design
Photography Andy Stagg
Structure
Modular in nature, the lean crafted concrete frame provides highly versatile spaces, which allows for rooms to be added within the grid.
Originally built by contractors Sir Robert McAlpine, renowned for their exceptional concrete craftsmanship on the National Theatre (1969-76) with Sir Denys Lasdun, 22 Shad Thames benefits from a similarly high standard of concrete work.
All floorplates are dual aspect with floor to ceiling glazing to both the Thameside and Shad Thames facades, allowing for natural ventilation and daylight penetration.
Green Retrofit
The existing robust lead cladding has been repaired and restored, and the ground floor reception foyer has been reinvigorated to create an arrival sequence reminiscent of its former use as Mellor’s showroom.
The top two floors, formerly residential, now seamlessly integrate as office space, with a new glazed conservatory reinstating a demolished structure. The basement houses end-of-journey facilities for cyclists and active commuters. A VRF heating and cooling system, powered by air source heat pumps, ensures energy efficiency.
