BGO partnered with Fathom Architects to deliver a transformative retrofit of The Waterman, a collection of four 19th-century warehouses on Farringdon Road in London’s Clerkenwell Conservation Area. The project, backed by BGO as the asset owner, sought to enhance sustainability, efficiency, and modern functionality while respecting the site’s industrial heritage. By consolidating the structures, adding a fifth floor and a new sixth-floor extension, the redevelopment increased the gross internal area by 900m² to over 6,500m². The design introduced inviting, club-like reception and meeting areas on the ground floor, while upper floors feature exterior balconies, ensuring a balance between heritage and contemporary workplace needs.
BGO’s commitment to sustainability was central to the project, with significant upgrades in energy performance, material reuse, and carbon reduction strategies. The retrofit reduced the number of circulation cores from four to two, improving accessibility, while all 360 single-glazed timber sash windows were replaced with double-glazed units, cutting energy consumption by 4.55 kWh/m²/year. Sustainable material reuse was a key focus, with BGO overseeing the repurposing of 3 tonnes of original glass into Ecorok terrazzo-style worktops, recycling 5,000 bricks, nearly 200m² of timber flooring, and 2.3 tonnes of structural steel. This project exemplifies BGO’s dedication to responsible real estate investment and innovation in urban regeneration.
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