A Soho Access Floor

Many people consider an access floor the staple of the modern data centre. They're correct in a sense – the popularity of the access floor in this context has grown exponentially – but there are many other uses for the access floor.

Click here for more on the Raised Access Floor!

The architect Lifschutz Davidson's trendy revamp of 20 Soho Square comes with raised access flooring. Originally completed in 1926 as the headquarters of tinned soup company Crosse & Blackwell, the building – while not listed - stands in a cramped city centre site in a conservation area.

Maximising space

Space is therefore quite limited and an access floor proved just the ticket to maximise the total amount of square footage. Given the conservationist demands of Westminster city planners, it was essential not to waste any space at all.

The 1920s neo-classical building has had an image-conscious £10m makeover to appeal to the style-conscious, high-spending advertising and media set that typically congregate in the area.

The new access floor at 20 Soho Square also helped the renovated building meet the British Council for Offices specification, which also includes air conditioning. Some 1010 m2, or 16%, has been added to the building's gross floor area.

Visual aesthetics

The raised access floor also compliments the aesthetic look of the building, which has an elliptical reception desk perched on a polished marble floor. The restored front facade has stately Portland Stone columns; there is an eye-catching oval spiral staircase; and a column-free top floor with a Wimbledon green carpet and slanting window walls.

Davidson’s creativity has been put to the test – every square inch of office space had to be squeezed in so that the developer, Asticus UK, could enjoy maximum rental revenue. Installing a raised access floor meant the building did not have to consign additional space for communications and computing equipment – it could all be stored and accessed underground.

Does your office need an access floor?

Following a consultation to make sure a particular type of building can accommodate an access floor, Fieldmans Access Floors Ltd offer a design and installation service. As an independent company with over twenty years’ experience in the business, their recommendations are unbiased and based purely on meeting the clients’ needs. For more information, please call 0208 462 7100 or write to Enquiries@Fieldmans.com.