Heals 'Manufactory'

Heals, London

Conamar Construction appointed Lawray to deliver the technical design to refurbish and convert spaces to provide the addition of Cat A offices in furniture retailer Heals, Grade II* listed landmark building complex on Tottenham Court Road.

A heritage asset for a new generation

Heals has been at the forefront of design since the furniture retailer was founded in 1810 by John Harris Heal. The current Grade II* listed building on Tottenham Court Road was built by Cecil Brewer in 1916 and further expanded along Alfred Mews to the south in 1937, and to the east in 1962. Acquired by the developer General Projects in partnership with investment firm KKR, Heals will occupy the ground floor while the upper floors are being reimagined to provide creative workspace.

Cat A Offices

Named the ‘Manufactory’ Lawray is delivering the third phase of work. In addition to creating Cat A offices on the first and second floors, back-of-house and commercial spaces on the ground floor, the basement will also be reconfigured. Ceilings in former historic retail areas will be opened-up to reveal original features while maximising floor-to-ceiling heights. A wood effect laminate raised floor will be introduced over original floorboards. Cecil Brewer’s iconic art deco spiral staircase will be celebrated with the introduction of glazed partition.

The site’s loading and dispatch area on Alfred Mews, will be transformed into a new entrance for the offices alongside a coffee bar and Cat A restaurant. A post-production area on the ground floor and basement will also be revamped.

Improving building performance

All refurbishment work will respect the historic character of the Grade II* listed building. Secondary glazing will be provided to windows to improve acoustic performance, and the Phase 3 modifications are being designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent. Building fabric will also be sensitively repaired.

Detail design and coordination

The evolution of the buildings and their adaptations over time has led to varying levels and a lack of coherence across the site. Through due diligence of the RIBA Stage 3 information, and meticulous attention to detail, our detail design solutions will stitch all the elements together to enable buildability and a seamless transition across the site.