OCS is one of the largest property support services provider in the UK, and 44 South Side acts as the Company’s main south London operational centre.
The Practice was commissioned to design a large-scale redevelopment of the site, including the demolition of three buildings to be followed by the construction of a new office building providing 6,350 sqm of open plan floor space over three floors plus a separate Gatehouse building.
In order to maintain security of the premises, construction the Gatehouse was undertaken as a first phase.
The Gatehouse monitors the entrance to the site and serves as a base for security staff and includes an interview and meeting facility.
This single storey building has a central corridor at its heart with full height glazing at each end together with clerestory windows above set into within an oversized dividing wall finished in render.
The ends of the corridor act as entrance and exit so can be easily read by visitors and simple to monitor by security staff.
The dividing wall separates the service spaces from functional activities within the support spaces on either side. The service spaces are constructed in dark blue masonry with a flat roof, whilst the support spaces are faced in render and timber with a shallow pitched roof faced in zinc. The ceiling follows the roof pitch to create a more dynamic and airy environment.
The Gatehouse was completed, but the office redevelopment has not been built out.