Vauxhall Cross, London
1998-1993

The Vauxhall Cross building is a bespoke office headquarters building on the banks of the Thames upstream from the Houses of Parliament, and includes the construction of a new landscaped river wall and esplanade, with landscaped gardens.

The building is a group of three longitudinal blocks stepping back from low rise at the river to medium rise at Albert Embankment. The blocks are linked together by glazed courtyards and atria. The building is set back from the river on an axis perpendicular to the river. The Albert Embankment elevation incorporates the main frontage and entrance to the building. This overall arrangement not only provides the most suitable massing and micro-climatic arrangement, but also enables views of the river to be obtained from within the site; from the riverside walkway; and from the land to the east of the site.

The public have access to the riverside along the newly formed riverside walkway from both Vauxhall Cross and from the Albert Embankment. The walkway, together with the external areas of the site facing Vauxhall Bridge and the Albert Embankment is extensively landscaped.

The building itself rises to nine floors in a terraced arrangement stepping back from the river, with a total gross floor area of approximately 460,000 square feet. The lower floor plates include the ancillary uses of restaurant, auditorium, sports facilities, car park, computer suites, conference rooms and library.

The floor plate configuration, structural grid and core arrangement were developed to suit the particular requirements of the end user, as were the space planning arrangements and individual office layouts. Six perimeter cores contain further plant rooms and services risers, means of escape staircases and toilet facilities. Five further internal cores contain passenger lifts serving all floors.

The commission included the full fitting out requirements for a government department which were completed at the end of 1993. The fit out brief reflected the ever improving standards of modern office accommodation along with a broad range of specialist facilities. The design also included the specification and provision of complex and demanding technological services for IT, building management and security, and environmental control.