April 2017 – London: GRAHAM Construction has completed work on The White Building in Reading. Formerly known as Kings House, the £16.5m redevelopment by Boultbee Brooks Real Estate (BBRE) is a new, commercial workplace that has been partially let to PharmaCosmos, Work.Life and Hervajec Group.
Over a construction programme of almost two years, GRAHAM has delivered 93,145 sq ft net internal area (NIA) of prime Grade A office space by removing the T-shaped building’s central core to create larger, open floorplates on all levels of the building, totalling 23,000 sq ft NIA of additional space overall. New stair cores, lifts and facilities have also been added to the rear of the building, as well as new cladding to improve energy efficiency throughout.
Rob Joyce, GRAHAM Construction’s London office director said: “One of the most technically challenging aspects of this project was the temporary works solution that involved around 70 tonnes of steel props to support the building’s structure while the central core was removed. This was critical to the project’s technical and commercial success and allowed us to create new, open floorplates that provide flexibility to occupiers.”
Roger James, Boultbee Brooks Real Estate’s Development Managing Director, said: “The team’s successful delivery of the project has transformed the previous building into a unique, modern workplace suited to a wide range of businesses. The SPPARC Architecture designed scheme includes new large single pane windows, open services and column free internal space which all add to the appeal of this special building. A testament to the product we have produced is 25% of the accommodation was let before completion of the works and we have another 45% under offer.
The seven-storey, office building is located on 33 Kings Road in Reading, near the Oracle shopping centre and train station. It benefits from 105 parking spaces with a 1:857 sq ft parking ratio on the new NIA created.
