Cavendish Fit Out, 1 Basinghall Avenue, London SW1A 1AA.

• Project type – Conference & Events Facility Fit-Out
• Scope – Full RIBA Stage 4 Mechanical Design
• Systems – VAV ventilation, air conditioning, drainage, central plant
• Programme – Fast-track fit-out

We were appointed to deliver a coordinated RIBA Stage 4 detailed design for a conference and events facility within an existing commercial building. The scope included design and coordination of mechanical services for the tenant fit-out, including VAV ventilation, comfort cooling, public health services, and new ventilation central plant.

The design focused on integrating tenant systems with basebuild services including the provision of a flexible ventilation strategy to accommodate high occupancy levels.

The primary challenge associated with the project was managing ventilation requirements driven by high and fluctuating occupancy densities typical of conference spaces. The nature of the space being a conference facility demanded high amount of fresh air which went well above the basebuild provisions. We worked on a design approach that included various occupancy scenarios that closely mirrored the actual occupancy density for each space during the day.

To address this we created a sophisticated variable air volume (VAV) ventilation strategy incorporating CO₂ sensors throughout the facility to monitor occupancy levels. This enabled the system to dynamically regulate airflow, delivering ventilation precisely where and when it was needed while maintaining operational efficiency.

The project was delivered within a fast-paced fit-out programme, requiring close coordination between design teams, contractors, and landlord stakeholders to integrate new services with existing basebuild infrastructure without disrupting ongoing building operations.

247 Tottenham Court Road, London.

• Large Technology End Client
• 15,000 Sq Ft Cat B Fit Out
• Pre Lease advice
• Design Reviews
• Project Monitoring

The first role was to undertake the initial pre-lease technical due diligence (TDD) survey of the landlord MEP plant and common areas and the Cat A floor plate of the 5th floor.

Following the reporting, Eteria undertook the role of the client’s MEP consultant to review, assess and interrogate the client’s requirements against the base build services provision and the main contractor’s MEP proposals. Construction stage inspections and witnessing with the various MEP trades were also undertaken.

Finally, Eteria also reviewed and commented upon the contractor’s design proposals and O&Ms for the Licence for Alterations application, to allow the client to conclude the tenancy application.

The primary challenge was the fast-track 6-month programme from the initial TDD survey through to witnessing commissioning and snagging, all to ensure heads of terms, technical requirements and the Cat B fit-out was completed on time to prevent void periods that the client would be responsible for.

This required continuous and detailed discussions and coordination with all parties, especially the main contractor and their consultants and onsite trade team. The ability to distil the flow of technical information and the resultant options, as well as ensuring all relevant information was available to the landlord for their review, were important for quick decision-making and keeping the programme on-track.

Hallmark House, Rowdell Road, Northolt.

• Project: Hallmark House
• Location: Rowdell Road, Northolt, UB5 6AG
• Client: Hollis Global
• Building Type: Industrial warehouse with offices
• Project Type: Cat A refurbishment – full MEP replacement
• Value: c. £2m
• Area: 98,722 SQ FT

Eteria was appointed to deliver the mechanical and electrical design for the Cat A refurbishment of Hallmark House, Northolt. The brief was to strip out all legacy and tenant-installed services and provide a modern, efficient and flexible MEP installation suitable for future tenant fit out.

The works required a full upgrade of the incoming electrical supply to facilitate the conversion of heating to an all electric system.

The Project required a full services replacement within the existing industrial building that had accumulated multiple layers of tenant installed systems over time. Careful coordination was needed to identify which services could be safely retained and refurbished, including drainage, PV and specialist equipment such as the overhead crane. The design had to offer a Cat A specification with flexibility for future tenant fit-out.

Key Interventions included:

• Hybrid VRF heating and cooling to offices
• Mechanical heat recovery ventilation (MVHR) to offices
• Full replacement of main switchboard and distribution boards including new incomer
• High efficiency LED lighting
• EV charging provision

40 Grosvenor Place, London.

• Existing 6-storey commercial building + basement
• Cat A refurbishment – Levels 2–5
• New End-of-Trip (EOT) facilities
• Retention and new instillation of key MEP plant
• EPC Target: B
• BREEAM Target: Excellent
• WELL: Gold
• BCO 2023 compliant
• Client: Leonari

The project presented several constraints that influenced the final design. The building remained partially occupied throughout the works, with tenants remaining in occupation. This required careful design phasing and coordination to ensure that critical services remained operational.

The building’s location adjacent to Buckingham Palace Gardens introduced planning sensitivities, particularly regarding any changes to rooftop plant or visual impact.

The aspiration to achieve strong sustainability outcomes also posed challenges, as compliance with BREEAM Excellent, EPC B and strict whole-life-carbon targets had to be achieved while retaining significant elements of the 1998 building systems.

Extensive surveys were required to validate the condition of existing plant, including cooling towers, chillers, AHUs, riser ductwork and pipework systems, and to identify components that required refurbishment, replacement or removal.

Building 1, Meadows Business Park, Camberley.

• Cat-B Fit Out
• Project Value – £1.8M
• 35,000 sq.ft. Office
• Client – Carter Jonas
• Retention and adaptation of existing MEP services
• Focus on sustainability to maintain EPC rating of A
• BREEAM ‘Excellent’

The Project involved a Cat-B fit-out of the whole 3 storey building for Leaders Romans Group (LRG), as they occupy the building as their new headquarters. The fit out included a new reception, training room, executive suite, boardroom and open plan working areas.

Our Engineers collaborated closely with the Client and wider team to provide client monitoring services and identify any key technical issues.

The aim for Meadows Park was to provide a flexible and versatile working environment for LRG whilst delivering the functionality required.

Through testing and validation, a number of issues were identified with the basebuild system. Among these was a lack of sufficient fresh air for the proposed occupancy.

By working closely with the Contractor, we were able to resolve this through an increased the fan speed on the AHU and by providing a level of diversity to certain areas.

The proposed fit out also had to ensure it maintained the current EPC and BREEAM rating of the building. Through close monitoring of the contractor, we were able to ensure this was achieved.

57-60 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London.

• Cat-A Office Fit Out
• Project value £250k
• Grade II listed
• Commercial Office Cat A fit out and refurbishment following fire damage
• Performance Design & Construction Monitoring

Initially, we were required to inspect the property to identify the damaged services and confirm the requirement for replacement.

The second phase of the project saw the design of the new services to deliver a modern services installation whilst respecting the period features and historic character of the building.

Challenges for the project included the careful identification of fire damage to existing services, particularly retained equipment. Thorough testing and validation of systems including sub main cables successfully identified suitability for retention.

Careful planning of new services routes, reusing existing services containment routes and openings were also considered to ensure the fit out was implemented with sensitivity whilst not compromising on functionality.

1 Basighall, London.

• Project value – c. £30M
• 207,000 sq.ft. Office
• Client – Leonari
• Decarbonisation Scheme
• NABERS compliant
• Design and Projects
• Refurbishment
• Detailed Design

Eteria was appointed to develop a full Stage 4 design for the decarbonisation of the air conditioning and heating at this large commercial office building in central London. The client provided an initial concept design, which Eteria took forward to detailed design. The brief centred on delivering a future-proof, low-carbon strategy that would significantly reduce the building’s reliance on fossil fuels and align with net zero targets. Key elements of the scope included high-efficiency air handling units with heat recovery, the installation of roof-mounted air and water heat pumps, integration of buffer vessels, replacement of common area fan coil units, and the design of a new high-specification reception.

Europa Way, Sheffield.

• Project value – c. £2.4M
• 330,000 sq.ft. Warehouse
• 10,000 sq.ft office block
• Client – Air BC
• Design and Projects
• Refurbishement
• Testing and Validations

The refurbishment focused on cost-effective measures to enhance the building’s sustainability. Retain and re-condition was the driver and upfront validations was vital to establish which systems can be retained.

Westbourne Terrace Hotel, London.

• Project value – £7,000,000
• Grade II listed
• 80-room Hotel
• Client – Dallington Properties
• M&E Design
• Sustainability

One of the key challenges in this project was working with the complex existing building structure, which had to be largely retained due to the building’s listed status. To address this, we worked closely with the architect and structural engineer throughout the three-month design phase to resolve key coordination issues and navigate structural pinch points.

A further critical aspect was the heating and hot water system. It was essential to ensure a reliable and efficient provision that met modern performance standards. We explored both gas and heat pump technologies to align with current sustainability and technological expectations. Space allocation for plant equipment also required careful consideration, as planning consent was necessary. Given the building’s location in a highly residential area with specific planning restrictions, we collaborated with the local planning authority to develop a compliant and acceptable solution.

Kirby Street, London.

• Project value – c. £3M
• 35k sq.ft ‘Grade A’ offices
• Services design for M&E
• 3D Coordinated Design
• Complete Refurbishment and Extension
• Exposed Services Coordination with Existing Structure
• Relocated Building Core
• BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ targeted
• Improved EPC ‘A’ rating

The Project involved a comprehensive renovation of the entire building, including the addition of a new floor, all while adhering to sustainability objectives. Our Engineers collaborated closely with the Client and the wider design team to deliver a coordinated exposed services scheme.

Working together with the wider design team and sustainability consultant the project is aspiring to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC A ratings.

The aim is for 20-24 Kirby Street to meet these high standards and provide premium ‘Grade A’ office space.

The project faced challenges in coordinating the structural, architectural, and building services design. To meet this challenge, the exposed services distribution and the existing building structure necessitated a thorough coordination exercise utilising 3D Revit design software.

A considerable effort was dedicated to the setting out of penetrations of the existing structure for various MEP services in conjunction with fire protection pipework in order to achieve the aesthetic vision of DLA Architecture.