Thames Tower was once a dated 1970s office block, which has now been refurbished into a one of the most desirable office locations in the Thames Valley.
Externally the building was stripped back to its original frame and re-clad in high quality terracotta, taking inspiration from the surrounding 19th century brick buildings in the town centre and a New York skyscraper.
Developed by a partnership between Landid and Brockton Capital, the £44 million Thames Tower project completed in early 2017 has already become a Reading landmark. Its state-of-the-art office spaces have already attracted a number of high profile occupiers, including financial services giant HSBC, professional services firm BDO, recruitment firm Austin Fraser and natural food specialist Pret A Manger.
A welcoming reception
Internally the building has been transformed, offering tenants beautifully designed spaces. At ground level, a welcoming double height reception area was created at both the north and east entrances by removing the first floor, in order to improve the presence at street level. It provides extra space for collaborative work, as well as housing the reception and concierge services.
Bespoke reception desks were handcrafted by Benchmark, made by binding oak beams together with blackened steel braces to bring warmth and functionality to the room. The soft oak provides contrast against the concrete tiled walls and compliments the bamboo panelling that helps to diffuse light throughout the space.
A ‘contemporary classic’ approach was taken to attract occupiers and create a new landmark for Reading that would stand the test of time. The new reception provides visitors with a first glimpse of the exciting spaces created.
Cool, Funky Office Space
The building, which had four additional floors added has had its Net Internal Area increased by 62,000 sqft and now provides a total of 182,206 sqft office space. Each floor has generous floor-to-soffit heights of 3.1m on the first 10 floors, 3.7m on 11th–13th floors and 4.2m on the 14th floor.
The office spaces have a modern and open feel with exposed surfaces which not only add to the contemporary finish, but also allows the full height of the ceilings to be appreciated. This also provides tenants with the ability to customise the spaces with ease, in order to appeal to a wider range of occupiers.
Exposing the steel structure on the upper floors has highlighted the contrast between the new steelwork and the old concrete Thames Tower, emphasising the rebirth of the building as a modern workspace.
A Rooftop Lounge and Sky Garden
On the top floor, a new rooftop lounge, terrace and garden has been added. The Roost offers a vibrant 4,000 sqft space for occupiers to relax and enjoy the spectacular views of Reading and the Thames Valley. Designed by Moho London, the communal bar and café give the feel of a stylish members’ club and also doubles up as an events space, allowing occupiers to meet and exchange ideas away from their desks.
The innovative workspace has been matched by a ground-breaking creative community engagement programme, which has included coffee giveaways and community events being held internally. It was also turned into The Thames Tower High Striker, a pre-Christmas light display in the style of the traditional fairground mallet and bell trial of strength, which lit up the entire northern elevation of the building, helping generate a buzz around Reading town centre and embed the building back into the community.
These initiatives have helped further enhance the buildings appeal to tenants and alongside the beautifully designed workspaces have made Thames Tower the go to office designation in the Thames Valley.