The Hoxton (Wedge House), London | AET Flexible Space

OVERVIEW

The Hoxton, Southwark, is an ambitious new refurbishment of a former social security office located on London’s south bank. The Hoxton Hotel incorporates 192 hotel rooms, restaurants, bars and function rooms, as well as 4,000 m2 of flexible co-working office space, the all within a sleek and contemporary building. The first two storeys of the new building contain public areas for the hotel. Six floors of hotel rooms provide 192 rooms, and a further five floors of flexible office space provide new offices for start-ups and sole traders, with a winter garden breakout space for workers to mingle on the 12th floor and a 14th-floor, top-floor bar and restaurant. AET’s flexible and adaptable CAM-V underfloor air conditioning system was identified by the M&E consultants Hoare Lea and subsequently chosen by the project team as the most suitable solution for the 5 floors of office space. The Hoxton Hotel office space will primarily be used for co-working, with regular changes to layout and function, therefore finding and air conditioning system that could be easily adapted to the ever changing needs of the space was essential. AET’s modular Fantile units fit seamlessly and can be quickly and easily relocated. AET’S UfAC systems make use of the void beneath the raised floor void, as a plenum, where conditioned supply is distributed, whilst drawing spent room air back to the Conditioned Air Module (CAM) unit at high level by way of return air grille. The conditioned air is delivered into the space, by induction, via AET’s unique Fantile units, which fit seamlessly into the sub-structure of the raised access floor, and can be quickly and easily relocated at any time. As the floor plenum is 100% supply air the CAM-V system offers maximum flexibility to the space in terms where the Fantile units can be placed, allowing for effortless reconfiguration depending on the particular needs of the layout office. The standard TU4 Fantile units were used throughout the majority of the office space, while AET’s specially designed slimline TU350 Fantile units were used within the central break-out and kitchen areas on each floor. This was due to a reduced 170mm floor void in these areas, which was a result of the design of the building’s structure. Developer – Enismore (The Hoxton Group) Architect – Lifschutz Davidson Stanilands M&E Consultant – Hoare Lea Quantity Surveyor – Gardiner & Theobald Main Contractor – Kier M&E Contractor – Jll Ltd.