Wardour Street

Mumford & Wood were specified by renowned building contractor Morgan Sindall Construction Group based on the strength of previous business relationships  and the established ability of Mumford & Wood to adapt its market leading products to meet modern  building regulations within bespoke heritage projects.

Crucially, a number of special conditions had to be satisfied for this Soho scheme with the London Borough City of Westminster, and were submitted via main architect EPR Architects, London SW1. This was just the beginning of the involvement of a complex line of parties which included Morgan Sindall, Walbrook Land Limited, of Mayfair, a property investment specialist, and the client and building owner Legal & General.

The building is referred to as SeventySix Wardour.  It has an imposing red stoned façade and mansard roof and occupies a prominent corner position.  It comprises three retail units and five floors of office space. Mumford & Wood’s involvement lies with the central three commercial office floors that occupy approximately 21,000 square feet in which triple aspect windows create a striking feature.

The window specification called for fixed casement windows with limited openings, and the essential replication of intricate details.  This included distinct feature mouldings to the transom and mullions in order to remain in keeping with the architectural style of this central London location.  Mumford & Wood’s modern manufacturing methods combined with the thermal and acoustic efficiency of energy rated, factory finished, double glazed panels made to the specification of the British Woodworking Federation’s Timber Window Accreditation Scheme, ensured the delivery of both period aesthetics and modern levels of performance.

The moulding details for SeventySix Wardour were painstakingly researched, surveyed, designed and recreated by the skilled team at Mumford & Wood’s Essex-based manufacturing facility where constant checks were carried out to ensure section details matched the traditional glass lines.

A number of opening sections were specified within the plans which were required to serve a modern and practical purpose linking complex electronics to the building’s fire system.  Smoke actuators on an automatic mechanism had to be capable of operating the specified window openings for the provision of ventilation in the event of a fire and to satisfy current fire regulations.  This was the first time such a requirement had been made to Mumford & Wood and it posed a significant challenge. The windows had to incorporate the wiring and mechanisms whilst retaining the required aesthetics to the satisfaction of the local planning authority which required a careful balance.

To achieve this, the electronic systems were installed during the window manufacturing process and supplied to site for connection to the building.  “In total 83 windows were designed and manufactured by us in what became an enormously detailed and very challenging project,” says Tim Kirk, Regional Sales Manager, Mumford & Wood.  “It’s the first of this particular specification for us and many thought it impossible to incorporate the electronic system without compromising the very beautiful detail and aesthetic value of these windows, but the project has been a great success and the client is very happy.”

The development is now almost complete, at a gross development value of £85 million and shortly to be occupied, and is a perfect demonstration of Mumford & Wood’s technical excellence, design and customer service.