E by Equinox St. James’s
The redevelopment of a former bank into a boutique health club for Equinox, a luxury fitness brand, described by The Telegraph as ‘the UK’s swankiest gym.’
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Client
Equinox
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Architect
Woods Bagot
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Photography
Will Pryce
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Size
1,700m²
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Completion
2018
The former bank building stands in a prominent position at the corner of St. James’s Street and Kings Street. It is believed that the seven-storey building was built between 1910-1912 and it is located within the St James’s Street Conservation Area. The external alterations were minimal, maintaining the building’s historical prominence. However extensive work was done to the interior, for which our team provided the structural and civil engineering solutions.
Following a detailed structural survey of the existing building, redevelopment works were carried out at basement, ground, and mezzanine levels to create specialty spaces — public and private training spaces, membership consultation offices, dining, and laundry valet services, as well as treatment, and steam rooms, saunas, and the club’s first-ever dedicated ‘regen’ room. There are new safe access platforms within the service riser, and non-structural works at roof level. The main structural alterations included the design of a grand staircase and balustrade with a double curved bulkhead.
New louvres where carefully introduced to the façade at basement level, as well as on the James and King Street elevations, to assist the ventilation strategy, and a new rooftop terrace provides outdoor spaces for the enjoyment of clientele.
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