International consultancy, Dar Group, is to build a new 185,000 ft² mixed-used scheme at 150 Holborn as the company looks to grow its business in the UK. The new nine-storey landmark HQ, which has full planning permission, will replace a current 1980’s office block and incorporates ground floor retail and an adjacent residential block comprising 13 apartments. The building has been designed to bring a number of the Dar Group companies together under the same roof, including Dar, Perkins + Will, Currie & Brown, Elementa, IPA Advisory, Penspen and Maffeis, and is designed to encourage collaboration and the exchange of ideas between the Group’s member companies.
Andrew Loudon, UK MD for Dar, said: “Our new HQ in Holborn is a demonstration of commitment to the UK by Dar. We are delighted to be developing our premises in this dynamic, exciting and developing area of London. We view London and the UK as a key area of our business in supporting our global clients and are actively pursuing a number of opportunities to further grow our business. In addition to growing our business in the UK, we will be focusing on creating local employment opportunities and engaging with the local community to encourage awareness of design and engineering through educational collaboration.”
Perkins + Will, the architects and designers of the building, are targeting a range of sustainability measures for the development, including BREEAM Excellent, LEED Platinum, and SKA Gold. The design will connect and contextually link 150 Holborn to its surroundings, whilst providing the building with its own distinctive identity so that it acts as a landmark for the burgeoning ‘midtown’ neighbourhood. The office block’s façade uses glass reinforced concrete, which complements similar, concrete materials visible in the area, and the residential building has a matching façade and solid black panels, further ensuring visual continuity.
On the inside, the building will feature a central entrance lobby, which includes a street facing café, exhibition and reception space, an atrium with feature stair, and sweeping roof pavilion with roof gardens.
John Drew of Perkins + Will added: “150 Holborn will act as a significant landmark for Camden and will push the boundaries of sustainable development and design. We have worked closely with the London Borough of Camden to ensure that the building fits with the surrounding area, whilst supporting Holborn’s future development and prosperity with a distinctive new design at its heart. We are proud to be investing in the future of Camden, an area that is ripe for growth and presents a significant opportunity for employment, living and leisure.”
Dar has been longlisted for the prestigious redesign of the iconic Old Street Roundabout, the only longlisted entry that is led by landscape architects. Dar’s design is to create a diverse, vibrant landmark for London called Old Street Circus. The design reclaims the roundabout for the people of London to create a thriving, active, healthy, safe and inclusive urban community green space that draws in, connects and captivates, giving people a good reason to visit.
Robyn Gilmour, Head of Marketing and Business Development for Dar, said: “We are thrilled to be longlisted for the prestigious redevelopment of Old Street Roundabout which focuses on delivering public space back to the people of this great city”.
