Refurbishment transforms interior of New Broad Street House
The building houses seven storeys of office, conference and related facilities managed by serviced office providers, Stonemartin plc.
For RHWL Architects, commissioned by building owners Norwich Union, an immediate priority was to create an airy, welcoming space behind the retained early-Victorian facade. The existing interior dated from the late 1980s and was as sombre as it was opulent, with dark polished finishes and high energy yellow lighting. The second floor floorplate extends into the atrium, cutting natural light to the lower levels, which included a barely-used breakout area on the lower ground floor.
By contrast, the new interior is pared back and filled with light – emphasizing the accessibility of the common parts. A white glass lift shaft accesses all floors, supplemented by a steel, stone and glass stair that links ground and lower ground floor levels. The replacement of a glazed partition at ground floor level with a glass balustrade re-establishes communication between the atrium and lobby areas. A clever lighting installation has further reinvigorated those areas overshadowed by the second floor floorplate. A colour changing LED-powered Barrisol Lumiere is fitted to the underside of this structure, 10m above the atrium floor.
The Institute of Directors has chosen New Broad Street House as its regional hub in the City.
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