Case studies

WINGATE HOUSE, SOHO

A 1958 modernist landmark on Shaftesbury Avenue, described at the time of its construction as an exemplar office building, and left largely untouched for six decades. Bringing it back to that standard meant a back-to-frame refurbishment on one of Soho's busiest streets, with the Curzon Cinema trading below throughout.

BC Partners Real Estate / Seaforth Land
Client
2020-2022
Duration
93-107 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5DY
Location
Commercial Office Refurbishment
Sector
70,000 sq ft across 9 floors
Building Size
BC Partners Real Estate / Seaforth Land
Client
2020-2022
Duration
93-107 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5DY
Location
Commercial Office Refurbishment
Sector
70,000 sq ft across 9 floors
Building Size

Heritage refurbishment on Shaftesbury Avenue

When BC Partners acquired Wingate House on Shaftesbury Avenue in 2019, they acquired one of Soho's most recognisable buildings - a 1958 Sir John Burnet, Tait and Partners modernist landmark described at the time of its construction as "an exemplar modernist office and leisure building." Six decades later, it needed to become one again. Our scaffolding gave the project the access platform to make that possible, on one of London's busiest thoroughfares, with the building in active use throughout.

  • The Challenge

    Wingate House sits on Shaftesbury Avenue in Soho – nine floors of office, retail, and leisure space including the Curzon Cinema and Bank of China at ground and lower levels. BC Partners’ back-to-frame refurbishment required complete window replacement across the entire perimeter, structural work to four rooftop terraces, and comprehensive internal upgrades across all floors. The building remained occupied by existing tenants throughout.

    Shaftesbury Avenue presented immediate access constraints. One of central London’s busiest pedestrian routes, it required uninterrupted public access at all times. There was no tolerance for pavement closures or disruption to the street-level businesses operating below.

    Material logistics compounded the challenge. The building’s height and constrained urban setting meant that every glazing panel, steel section, and fit-out material required a carefully managed route to the working level. Ground-level storage was minimal. Crane and hoist operations required precise coordination within a dense street environment.

    The phased nature of the refurbishment added a further layer of complexity. With tenants continuing to occupy lower floors, scaffolding had to support active construction above while protecting the businesses operating below, across a programme running over two years.

  • Our Solution

    We provided comprehensive external access across the entire building perimeter and roof, designed to accommodate the phased refurbishment programme as it moved through different building zones.

    The installation included full external scaffolding for the complete replacement of all window glazing across all nine floors, including new Crittall-style steel windows throughout. Precision access across multiple levels supported the new balustrade installation, coordinated with the internal works schedule to keep trades moving.

    At the rear elevation, we installed a 2-tonne beam hoist feeding directly into a 2-tonne goods hoist, creating an efficient material flow system for the volume of glazing, structural steel, and finishing materials the programme required. Three gantries managed ground-level logistics across different building zones, while two lift shaft scaffolds provided internal access for vertical circulation upgrades including new lifts.

    Public safety drove our street-level approach. Full pedestrian segregation was maintained on the pavement throughout the 24-month programme, with Shaftesbury Avenue’s foot traffic uninterrupted at every stage.

    As the refurbishment progressed through terrace reconstruction across four floors and the creation of over 5,500 sq ft of new outdoor space, the scaffold installation adapted to support each phase. The Curzon Cinema and Bank of China continued trading throughout.

  • The Outcome

    The building reopened as Grade A office space in 2022, rebranded as The Wingate. It achieved BREEAM Excellent, WiredScore Gold, and Fitwell 2* certifications, a full suite of sustainability and connectivity accreditations that reflect the depth of the transformation.

    Upper floors let at a 15% premium above acquisition projections. New tenants include Target Global, Fever, and film post-production company Hireworks, drawn by the quality of the workspace and the character of the Soho address. The building reached full occupancy by May 2024, with BC Partners completing a successful refinancing the same month.

    The 5,500 sq ft of terraces across four floors – previously unused rooftop space – now provide tenants with unobstructed views across central London. The Curzon Cinema and Bank of China regeared their leases under BC Partners’ ownership. A 1958 modernist landmark, restored to the standard its original architects intended.

  • Key Figures

    9 floors · 70,000 sq ft · 5,500 sq ft of new terrace space across 4 floors · 2-tonne beam hoist and 2-tonne goods hoist · 3 gantries · 2 lift shaft scaffolds · Full pedestrian segregation maintained throughout · BREEAM Excellent · WiredScore Gold · Fitwell 2* · 15% rental premium above acquisition projections · Full occupancy achieved May 2024.

Services required

Hoists & Lifting Structures

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