Projects
Kodak House London
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Kodak House was built in 1911 and was originally the European headquarters of the Kodak Company. The project comprised the basement to roof upgrade of this Grade-ll listed 7-storey building in Holborn which is one of the earliest examples of a purpose-built open plan office block in London.
PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
Since its original construction in the early 1900’s, the Kodak building had undergone previous changes of use with works being described by the project’s architects as being ” … haphazardly re-modelled several times, creating compromised spaces…” culminating in the building remaining vacant and almost unusable for some time; the basement was no exception!
The below-ground areas had suffered damage as a result of long-term water ingress through failed external membrane waterproofing of the reinforced concrete retaining walls and floor slabs combined with leaking pavement lights at street level.
Internally, following removal of existing finishes from walls and floors and subsequent surface preparation, a Grade 3-compliant (BS8102-2022) interior was created through the application of Sika’s pre-bagged Sika 1 structural waterproofing render system.
With detailing at wall / floor junctions as well as leaking daywork and movement joints requiring waterproofing, some 600 LinM of Sika’s Combiflex hypalon joint over banding system was installed as part of the overall waterproofing package.
In addition to the multi-layer application of Sika®-1 waterproofing to circa 600m* of floors and 500m* of walls, Sikalastic®-1K – a one-component fibre-reinforced cementitious mortar for flexible waterproofing – was applied in areas.
OUTCOME
As well as a new terrace at roof level providing the building’s users a space to rest and interact with co-workers, the basement level has been entirely re-utilised.
The previously unusable below-ground space now provides new showers and changing facilities along with bicycle parking. The introduction of these commuter facilities encourages more sustainable ways to travel to work for the building’s users and visitors.
OFFICE & COMMERCIAL | RETAIL | LEISURE | HOTELS | RESIDENTIAL | EDUCATION | HEALTHCARE
Third-Party Accreditations
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