COMMENDATION – Paddington Square, London

A 23-storey mixed-use building, which includes west London’s highest rooftop restaurant, has revitalised an area between Paddington Station and St Mary’s Hospital.

FACT FILE
Architects: Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Adamson Associates
Structural engineer: WSP
Steelwork contractor: William Hare Limited
Main contractor: Mace
Client: Great Western Developments Limited
All images on this page © Hufton + Crow

Comprising 19 floors above ground with four basement levels, Paddington Square has been designed as a visually striking structure with a significant portion of its steel frame left exposed.

Mace Project Director John Kennedy says: “Steel was chosen for this project as it fulfils the design aesthetic of a transparent frame, which not only includes exposed beams and columns within the building’s interior, but also an expressed exoskeleton that can be viewed through the structure’s glazed elevations.”

As the steelwork and the connections are predominantly on view in the building, a high-specification fire proofed paint with a quality finish was specified. The paint was applied at steelwork contractor William Hare’s fabrication facility, and once erected, areas that had minor scratches and knocks had paint carefully re-applied.

As well as steelwork’s aesthetic qualities, the material was also chosen as the best framing solution to achieve the required spans and the long column-free areas within the development.

This is most noticeable at ground floor Praed Street level, which includes a large column-free reception space, terrace and workspace. The perimeter columns, on four elevations, are also set-back by 4m, creating more space for the surrounding public realm.

The inset columns return to a perimeter position by raking outwards up to level six of the building.

“There are a series of cantilevering beams, 4m-long at third floor level that gradually decrease on each floor, as the raking columns reach level six,” explains WSP Structures Lead Engineer Jacek Urban.

Adding to the building’s design, all of the perimeter columns are circular hollow sections, chosen for their aesthetic visual qualities.

Gaining its stability from the core, the steelwork is predominantly based around a 9m column grid pattern, with the longest internal spans being 18m-long.

Within the steel frame there are three substantial trusses, including a couple of 18m-long x two-storey high sections that are positioned at level two and span the entrance to the retail mall.

“The trusses are positioned at the south-west corner of the building, at 90 degree angles to each other, as the design required the mall entrance to have minimal columns,” adds Mr Urban. “There is another single-storey 18m-long truss on the opposite side of the building that creates the column-free space for the loading bay circulation.”

Creating access to the various public spaces within the scheme has also relied on steel construction. The uppermost level of the building features a restaurant and bar, with an outdoor terrace. Access to this amenity is via its own scenic lift, which clings to the outside of the building overlooking the adjacent station.

In summary, the judges say this elegant mixed-use building features a 19-floor office ‘cube’ suspended above four retail and restaurant levels addressing a new public space that has revitalised the area between Paddington Station and St Mary’s Hospital. An improved environment for both the travelling public and office users is complemented by a landmark structure visible through layers of diaphanous steel and glass elevations.