The London Fire Brigade’s move to its new home at 169 Union Street , Southwark came one step closer this week when the company was appointed to fit out the building.Wates Interiors will convert the building to the needs of some 800 staff moving to the new headquarters from four offices at Albert Embankment.
Work will begin later in February and the company will be stripping out the existing five floor vacant office building and carrying out the refurbishment and fit-out of the 13,000m2 building. The project will provide open plan and cellular office space, meeting rooms, library, cafeteria, gym, and other support spaces. Contractors to provide office furniture will be appointed separately.
It is planned that the staff will move from buildings at Albert Embankment will begin in late 2007. Lambeth Fire Station will continue to operate from where it has stood since 1937 at Albert Embankment.
London Fire Commissioner Sir Ken Knight said: “This is a significant step forward in our plans to bring all HQ staff together under one roof. Once complete, Union Street will be a modern building with state-of-the-art facilities, befitting a 21st century fire and rescue service for the Capital. This will be an exciting new chapter in the life of the London Fire Brigade and I’m sure will ensure we provide even better fire and rescue services for London.”
Dating from 1905, 169 Union Street was for many years the area’s Royal Mail parcels sorting office. It was converted into office accommodation in 2000 and initially occupied by Sainsbury’s /Accenture. It has been refurbished to provide high quality office accommodation and shared facilities that will be adapted and updated to meet the needs of the Brigade’s many departments.
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