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Overview
Aldwych House is a prominent commercial building located in central London within a conservation area. The building includes a large central atrium designed to bring natural light into the interior spaces and provide an open architectural focal point.
Over time, the atrium façade system had begun to deteriorate. The original Astrawall curtain wall installation had become dated and was no longer performing to modern building envelope standards. The appearance of the glazing system had also begun to affect the overall presentation of the atrium.
Structura was appointed to carry out specialist façade refurbishment works to restore the atrium and improve its thermal performance while preserving the character of the listed building. The project required careful coordination due to the building’s protected status and its location within a conservation area.
The completed refurbishment delivered a significantly improved atrium environment, providing enhanced daylight, improved thermal performance, and a refreshed façade appearance.
Details
Client:
Rowan Asset Management
Location:
West End, London
Architect:
Sheppard Robson
Main Contractor:
Overbury
Consultant:
Cladtech Associates Ltd
Project Metrics
Although refurbishment projects vary depending on building conditions, the Aldwych House atrium refurbishment delivered several measurable performance improvements. Key performance and project metrics include:
Building type: Listed commercial building within a conservation area
Project scope: Atrium curtain wall refurbishment and façade upgrades
Original system: Astrawall curtain wall
Key improvements
- Improved thermal performance of the atrium façade
- Installation of bespoke silicone gasket system
- Refreshed façade appearance through metallic rainscreen cladding
- Restoration of curtain wall performance for long-term durability
The Challenge
Refurbishing façade systems in listed buildings presents a number of technical and architectural challenges. Any changes must improve performance while preserving the historic character of the building and complying with conservation requirements. For Aldwych House, the main challenges were centred around the condition of the existing curtain wall system, the constraints of working within a listed building, and the need to improve the environmental performance of the atrium.
Ageing Curtain Wall System
The atrium was originally constructed using an Astrawall curtain wall system. While effective at the time of installation, the system had become outdated and was showing signs of deterioration. Older curtain wall systems often experience issues such as reduced thermal performance, ageing sealing components, weather resistance degradation, and visual deterioration of façade finishes. These issues can affect both building performance and the user experience within the interior space. The ageing curtain wall installation at Aldwych House therefore required refurbishment to ensure the atrium could continue to perform effectively as part of the building envelope.
Listed Building Constraints
Aldwych House is a listed building located within a conservation area in central London. This status places strict requirements on how refurbishment works are carried out. The façade works needed to preserve the architectural integrity of the building, maintain visual consistency with the original façade design, respect conservation requirements for materials and finishes, and integrate new components without altering the historic character of the structure. Achieving these objectives required a carefully designed refurbishment strategy.
Improving Atrium Performance
Atriums are an important architectural feature in many commercial buildings. They provide natural daylight, improve internal spatial quality, and create visually striking interior environments. However, poorly performing glazing systems can reduce the benefits of an atrium by allowing heat loss, temperature fluctuations, or air infiltration. Improving the thermal performance of the atrium façade at Aldwych House was therefore a key objective of the refurbishment works. Enhancing thermal performance helps create a more comfortable internal environment while improving the overall efficiency of the building envelope.
Structura’s Solution
Structura delivered a specialist curtain wall refurbishment designed to restore the performance and appearance of the Aldwych House atrium while respecting the building’s architectural heritage. The project focused on replacing deteriorated components, upgrading the façade system, and introducing materials that would improve both aesthetics and performance.
Refurbishment of the Astrawall Curtain Wall
The core of the project involved the refurbishment of the existing Astrawall curtain wall system that formed the façade of the central atrium. Rather than replacing the entire structure, the refurbishment approach focused on restoring and upgrading key elements of the system to improve its performance and longevity. This strategy allowed the façade to maintain its original design characteristics while benefiting from modern materials and improved sealing technology. The refurbishment approach also reduced disruption to the building compared with a complete curtain wall replacement.
Bespoke Silicone Gasket System
A key upgrade introduced during the refurbishment was the installation of bespoke ‘Gold’ silicone gaskets. Silicone gaskets play an important role in curtain wall systems by providing weather sealing, thermal separation, structural flexibility, and long-term durability. Over time, original gasket systems can degrade, reducing the ability of the façade to maintain airtight and watertight performance.
By introducing custom silicone gasket solutions, Structura was able to significantly improve the sealing performance of the curtain wall while maintaining compatibility with the existing façade structure. These upgraded gaskets also help extend the service life of the curtain wall system.
Metallic Rainscreen Cladding Upgrade
In addition to the curtain wall refurbishment, the project included the installation of a metallic rainscreen cladding finish. Rainscreen cladding systems provide several advantages for façade refurbishment projects:
- Improved weather protection
- Enhanced façade durability
- Modernised architectural appearance
- Protection of underlying structural elements
The metallic finish was carefully selected to complement the existing architectural character of Aldwych House while providing a refreshed and contemporary façade appearance. The new cladding also contributes to the long-term protection of the building envelope.
Careful Integration Within a Listed Building
Because Aldwych House is a listed building located within a conservation area, all refurbishment works required careful design coordination. Structura ensured that the upgraded façade elements integrated seamlessly with the existing structure and architectural detailing. The refurbishment approach preserved the visual identity of the building while delivering modern performance improvements. This balance between conservation and modernisation was a key success factor for the project.
Project Results
The refurbishment of the Aldwych House atrium façade delivered significant improvements to both the performance and appearance of the building envelope. The project demonstrates how specialist curtain wall refurbishment can successfully modernise existing façade systems within historic buildings.
Improved Thermal Performance
One of the most important outcomes of the refurbishment was improved thermal performance within the atrium space. The upgraded gasket systems and refreshed curtain wall components help reduce heat loss and improve the building envelope’s insulation performance. Improved thermal efficiency helps maintain more stable internal temperatures while supporting overall building energy performance.
Brighter and More Spacious Atrium
The refurbished curtain wall system enhances the quality of the central atrium space. The improved façade allows greater natural light penetration while creating a cleaner and more visually appealing architectural feature within the building. Atriums play a key role in defining interior environments, and the refreshed glazing system helps maximise the impact of this space. The result is a light and spacious atrium that contributes positively to the overall building experience.
Refreshed Façade Appearance
The introduction of metallic rainscreen cladding and the refurbishment of the curtain wall system has significantly improved the visual presentation of the atrium façade. Older façade systems can make buildings appear dated even if the underlying structure remains sound. By carefully upgrading the façade materials, the project successfully modernised the appearance of the atrium while maintaining compatibility with the architectural character of the listed building.
Long-Term Façade Durability
The refurbishment works were designed to extend the lifecycle of the curtain wall system. By replacing degraded sealing components and upgrading façade finishes, Structura helped ensure that the building envelope can continue to perform reliably in the years ahead. This approach supports long-term building maintenance strategies while avoiding the disruption and cost of full façade replacement.
Conclusion
The Aldwych House project demonstrates how careful façade refurbishment can successfully upgrade the performance and appearance of ageing building envelopes. By refurbishing the existing Astrawall curtain wall system and introducing bespoke silicone gasket solutions and metallic rainscreen cladding, Structura was able to restore the functionality of the central atrium while preserving the character of the listed building.
The result is a brighter, more efficient atrium space with improved thermal performance and a refreshed façade appearance – achieved within the constraints of a conservation area. This project highlights the value of specialist curtain wall refurbishment in extending the lifecycle of existing façade systems while supporting the ongoing use and sustainability of historic buildings.