Core Five are delighted to confirm that The Kensington Building has recently achieved Practical Completion. We have been working with Ashby Capital and Janson Urban and a consultant team of Pilbrow & Partners, WSP and Ramboll. ISG Construction are the Main Contractor for the project.

We are very pleased to confirm that the beginning of March saw the official completion of The Kensington Building – the refurbishment of the former Pontings department store at 127 Kensington High Street after c. 36months on site.

Working with Ashby Capital and Janson Urban, the existing 1970s building has undergone a major refurbishment which has seen the partly retained frame extended both outwards and upwards. The scheme enhances the retail and office areas whilst providing a new retail arcade and entrance to High Street Kensington, London Underground Station.

A series of landscaped terraces provide sought-after external space and the new facade, including handmade Petersen bricks, will be more sensitive to the surrounding conservation areas.

Our work on The Kensington Building adds to our vast range of experience in office reinvention schemes. Over the last couple of years we have typically advised on over 3m sqft per year of such office reinvention space, ranging from simple decoration and refresh whilst tenants remain in-situ, to heavy cut and carve with extensions. These schemes bring life back into London’s existing building stock, with potential sustainability, cost and programme efficiencies. We are well versed in working with design team colleagues and clients to reduce risk and enhance value on these sorts of schemes.