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The neoclassical 1930s Curtis Green Building is part of London’s Whitehall property estate. It is classed as having special heritage interest and has a prominent position on the Thames, close to the Palace of Westminster. The building will have a much higher profile as the new headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
Arup provided engineering and specialist technical services on the development of New Scotland Yard and worked closely with Alford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) Architects on designing high-quality, contemporary offices that support the productivity and well-being of MPS staff. Overall, the design encourages greater interconnectivity between departments and more opportunities for interaction.
Early discussions between Arup’s structural services and façade engineers focused on maximising usable floor area. Sensitive modifications to the existing perimeter increased the floor area available from 4,700m² to 6,400m² whilst meeting 21st century energy requirements.
Our building engineers also maximised floor-to-ceiling heights and a new west-facing glazed façade with architectural shading brings daylight into the interior. A new pavilion atop the building provides space for meetings and activities.
By carrying out a series of geotechnical investigations with our unparalleled geotechnical expertise we presented to the client an opportunity to add an additional floor to the existing building and remove the density of columns within the floor plates with minimal new ground works.
At street level, a fully glazed entrance pavilion acts as a flexible, introductory space and allows some public access. The innovative curved glazing required rigorous testing to ensure safety and robustness. In fact, Arup and AHMM Architects worked closely with MPS to make the building and its surroundings as open as possible. New Scotland Yard will play an important role in the reinvigoration of the Victoria Embankment.
Arup’s extensive contribution has involved many of our specialist consultants, including security and AV/ICTexperts. The building’s design incorporates the latest technologies for live broadcast. Arup also acted as BIM coordinator, responsible for maintaining ASMEP 3D models on behalf of the wider design team.
The project had a demanding timetable. Working closely with the contractor, Arup developed a scheme that focused the works (including a new stability system for the building) into the new build portion, saving extensive time on programme and reducing risk for the client. RIBA Stages 1 and 2 commenced at the beginning of the project enabling work to begin on time.
