The design of the new St Botolph office development in the City of
London pushes the boundaries of contemporary architecture, including
the internal application of vertical illuminated Louvres from
Levolux.
Located on an island site near Aldgate, the St Botolph Building is a
fourteen storey landmark building, designed by internationally
acclaimed architects, Grimshaw. It provides circa 560,000 sq ft of
office and retail accommodation, based around a dramatic 13-storey
central atrium.
Access into the central core of the building is via a split level,
double height reception and adjoining circulation areas. These areas
are designed to effectively serve several high profile tenants,
including international insurance, legal and financial institutions.
In order to create an impressive, 'hi-tech' appearance, Levolux was
invited to develop a unique internal louvred solution for the
reception and circulation areas, leading to the central core of the
building. The bespoke solution incorporated vertical extruded
aluminium Louvres, which clad the walls and form a balustrade on the
first floor and running alongside eight escalators. In total,
Levolux installed 1,750 Louvres with a 'H-section' profile, each
measuring 185mm wide and 40mm deep, with a collective length of
almost 7.3 kilometres.
To achieve the desired aesthetic, Levolux created a custom aluminium
extrusion, to incorporate LED lights at the top and bottom of each
Louvre. The single piece extrusion also incorporates a serrated
diffuser, which distributes the light along the length of each
Louvre. When all Louvres are illuminated together, they create a
stunning, ultra-modern aesthetic.
This 'hi-tech' theme continues into the core atrium of the building,
where 16 computer controlled lifts operate within eight transparent
shafts, facilitating the coordinated and clearly visible movement of
people to and from the offices up above.
Andrew Byrne, Grimshaw Associate in charge of the project, said: “We
really appreciated Levolux's collaborative approach during the
design stages of this scheme. Their enthusiastic attitude towards
the project led to stunning results.”
Secured to the structure individually, with stainless steel brackets
and with a natural anodised finish, the bespoke vertical illuminated
Louvres installed by Levolux, complement the overall scheme and are
virtually maintenance free. As with all Levolux
solutions, the installation of vertical Louvres at St Botolphs is
backed by the company's design, manufacture and installation
package.
Now complete, St Botolphs is an exciting BREEAM 'Very Good' rated
office development which boasts some unique design features, setting
it apart from its neighbours. Perhaps the most imposing of these is
the application of Levolux's vertical illuminated Louvres throughout
its reception and circulation areas.
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