Historic Building Conversion

1990 Tobacco Dock, Wapping London UK

Refurbishment and conversion of a Grade 1 listed tobacco and wine warehouse into a 150,000m2 retail development with Farrells. The unique structure of bifurcated cast iron column and vaults  were designed in 1811 by the engineers Daniel Alexander and John Rennie. Solutions were devised to eliminate rogressive collapse in fire by strengthening roof beams which had no visual effect on the original columns. A fire engineering approaches were taken with smoke ventilation, fire protection and shop fronts to result in a discrete intervention of modern safety and security systems in a historic building. The project won a Civic Trust Award in 1992.