SSDA 2020: One Bartholomew, Barts Square, London

Steel is central to this new office building’s flexibility

One Bartholomew is a 12-storey building offering approximately 20,000 sq m of Grade A office space with a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and is the latest element of Barts Square, a new mixed-use development in Farringdon, central London. 

Flexibility is at the heart of the building’s steel-framed design. The structure is adaptable to the anticipated changing requirements of its users,  as there are generous floor-to-ceiling heights, alongside an efficient floorplate.

William Hare erected 2,350 tonnes of steel for the scheme. The steel frame gains its stability from a reinforced concrete core and the diaphragm action of the floor slabs. 

Some of the project’s largest steelwork elements are at ground floor, where a series of deep cantilever transfer beams extends the facade to the boundary and above the basement perimeter piles. 

These deep beams required extensive work to ensure they could be lifted into position, while the design had to make sure the splice connections did not interfere with the large service holes. 

The judges said the project showcases how steel can deliver a highly flexible long-span commercial building within an urban context. 

• Commendation: One Bartholomew, Barts Square, London
• Architect: Sheppard Robson
• Structural engineer: Waterman
• Steelwork contractor: William Hare
• Main contractor: Mace
• Client: Helical

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