Technique

Technique

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  • location

    132 Goswell Rd, EC1V

  • client

    Northern and Midlands Holdings

  • total area

    5,000 m²

  • system

    CAM—C

  • completion

    2021

The building

The Technique (Laser House) redevelopment is a conversion of two historic Clerkenwell buildings — a former gin distillery and bank headquarters into a new art-led creative hub. The 6,900 sq. m. offer best-in-class, modern workspace and retail over six storeys to accommodate more than 850 people, as well as 5,000 sq. m. of affordable office space dedicated to SMEs.

The original buildings have been retained and seamlessly stitched together with a new ‘infill’ building. Two new floors were developed above, completing a juxtaposition of ‘old’ and ‘new’.

Project details

AET worked with M&E consultants and long-time supporters at chapmanbdsp who understood the application of AET’s UfAC systems and the numerous benefits they bring. This close working history helped devise the optimal system layout for the Technique project.

Modular UfAC Solution

A total of 25 CAM-C units (four per floor) provide air conditioning to the building’s 5,000 sq. m. of office space set over five floors. The conditioned air is induced into the office space by AET’s unique and innovative, TU4 (EC) Fantile™ units.

These Fantile™ units are installed within the raised access floor, and thanks to their modular design can be reconfigured within minutes, making for a truly adaptable, fit-out-friendly air conditioning solution.

Design freedom

The forward-thinking approach in adopting the AET system has given the architects far greater design freedom to the internal aesthetics of the building, redefining and reinvigorating this bold new redevelopment.

The new extension, being built to link the two historical buildings, was constructed wholly out of cross-laminated timber releasing at least 50% less carbon than concrete choices.

AET Green Credentials

Our excellent energy credentials and the reduced volume of building materials required for an underfloor system contribute to the project’s sustainable design. In addition, the system’s inherent flexibility will help to limit the building’s “churn rate”, further boosting its sustainable credentials, as well as reducing a new occupant’s fit-out timeframes and costs.

Building’s overall environmental performance

— Upfront carbon emissions (A1-A5)
374 kgCO₂e/m²
— Stored biogenic carbon
92 kgCO₂e/m²
— Airtightness at 50pa
3 m³/hr/m²
— Overall area-weighted U-value
0.613 W/m²k
—Design life
60 years

Project partners

Developer — General Projects
Architect — Buckley Gray Yeoman
Quantity Surveyor — Quartz Project Services
M&E Consultant — chapmanbdsp
Main Contractor — GRAHAM Building
M&E Contractor — NUGENT

Related awards & accreditations

  • Dezeen Awards Longlisted, Architecture

  • RICS Awards, shortlisted — Refurbishment/Revitalisation Project of the Year

  • RICS Awards, shortlisted — Commercial Development of the Year

  • Building Awards, shortlisted — Refurbishment Project of the Year

  • NLA Awards, shortlisted

  • Surface Design Awards, shortlisted — Commercial Building Interior

  • NLA Awards, shortlisted

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