The £22 million transformation of the rebranded Carreras building, an art deco landmark on Mornington Crescent, has begun with appointment by Lazari of main contractor Vert Projects.
The building, previously known as Greater London House, takes its new name from its original use as the Carreras ‘Black Cat’ factory from 1928 to 1958.
The building is located within London’s Knowledge Quarter and at a gateway for Euston’s future HS2 station, putting it at the intersection of the cultural, commercial and transport hubs of Camden, Kings Cross and Euston.
The building is home to the global headquarters of fashion retailer ASOS, global beauty company Revlon, British Heart Foundation and the UK’s largest housing association Clarion Housing.
Agents Cushman & Wakefield and Edward Charles & Partners are marketing shell and floor refurbished office spaces on the 4th floor (29,113 sq ft), 3rd floor (54,167 sq ft) and garden floor at lower ground level (8,428 sq ft). The upper-floor refurbished space will benefit from floor to ceiling heights of up to 3.75 metres, abundant natural light, private terraces and panoramic views in all directions.
The refurbishment designed by architects dMFK will transform the range of amenity space through a stunning new entrance and 6,458 sq ft reception and lounge area, food and beverage hospitality space, communal co-working facilities and enticing external spaces for work and relaxation in the lightwells and, on the 6th floor, a 5,866 sq ft roof garden. Active individuals will find a new gym run by Sense Wellbeing and end-of-journey facilities.
The redesigned roof garden finds space for photovoltaic panels and a significant increase in urban greening and biodiversity with multiple planters, climbers, green walls and a green roof. Lazari will take the opportunity to improve access to the building, connect it better to the street and present a more elegant and greener face on all sides.
Originally completed in Egyptian Revival art deco style in 1928, the building was then the UK’s largest reinforced concrete factory. It was transformed following closure of the factory in 1958 to provide 363,000 sq ft of office space and a 4,000 sq ft restaurant after the 5th and 6th floors were added in the 1970s.
Lazari acquired Greater London House in August 2007 and completed its first significant internal reconstruction in 2019. Refurbishment of space for ASOS, designed by architects Spacelab, won the British Council for Offices Regional Award for Best Refurbished/ Recycled Workplace 2022.
Adrian Crooks, head of leasing at Lazari, comments, “Some of London’s most ambitious plans surround this building. The Knowledge Quarter is spreading fast and Euston will soon start to see a powerful transformation. The Carreras building is acting as a pioneer again, one hundred years after it first broke the rule book with its structure and its decoration.
“It’s not just the location that appeals to global companies. The office space in this building has long been something special due to its high ceilings and industrial features. It can accommodate around 3,500 jobs and its latest incarnation will make it a genuinely enjoyable place to work for all of those individual employees.”
David Roach, managing director at Vert Projects, comments, “Vert Projects were chosen to take on this project due to our 30-year history with the client and experience of large schemes within occupied buildings.
“With this project we are not only working on a pioneering reinforced concrete structure, but have the additional challenge of trying to ensure over 3,000 current occupiers are disrupted as little as possible. However, the reward in bringing these buildings up to the latest standards is that we save embodied carbon and preserve some hugely characterful landmarks.”
The refurbishment is due to complete in Autumn 2027. Appointed key supply chain partners under Vert Projects’ design and build contract include Gibberd Architects (architectural services), KPA Electrical (electrical design and build), ODH Services (mechanical design and build), Northvale Construction (demolition) and Frixos Metalworks (structural and architectural metalwork), with more to join the team soon.
