107-113 Great Portland Street Great Portland Street refurbishment

Value:

£5.6m

Timescale:

34 weeks

“Delivered in a highly visible central London location and within a live environment, the project stands as a flagship example of refurbishment delivered with care, control and real quality”

A large office with long desks and office chairs, greenery planters, herringbone floors, and exposed overhead ductwork. A bar-height table and stools sit near a window in the back corner.

Located on Great Portland Street in the heart of Central London, this office refurbishment London project formed a key part of our client’s asset repositioning strategy. The ambition was to transform a mixed-use building into a modern, high-quality workplace while maintaining occupation throughout the construction programme.

From the outset, the project faced demanding commercial deadlines and the complexities of working within a live environment. Consequently, careful planning and stakeholder coordination were essential. The team successfully delivered the refurbishment while keeping the building operational, ensuring tenants could continue their day-to-day activities with minimal disruption.

Office Refurbishment London in a Live Building Environment

One of the most significant challenges involved replacing the existing pavement lights and shopfronts along Great Portland Street while maintaining uninterrupted access for tenants and visitors.

To overcome this, the team implemented a carefully phased delivery strategy. Furthermore, they coordinated works around tenant trading hours, protected public access routes and maintained visibility for commercial occupiers throughout the programme. As a result, businesses continued operating without disruption while refurbishment works progressed around them.

Regular communication with tenants, consultants and stakeholders also played a crucial role in maintaining programme certainty and minimising operational impact.

Structural Alterations and Building Upgrades

Alongside the external refurbishment works, the project included extensive structural alterations within the existing building. These interventions created larger and more flexible floorplates capable of meeting the expectations of modern office occupiers.

However, restricted working hours and city-centre constraints placed additional pressure on the programme. Therefore, the team adopted strict noise and vibration controls to minimise disruption to neighbouring properties and surrounding businesses.

In addition, Virtus installed a new roof and upgraded the building’s core services infrastructure. The team also managed complex M&E changeovers through temporary service provisions. Consequently, building occupants experienced no interruption to critical services during the refurbishment.

High-Specification CAT A+ Office Fit-Out

Internally, the scheme delivered a premium CAT A+ workplace environment designed to attract future occupiers. A sophisticated material palette, high-quality finishes and carefully considered detailing elevated the overall look and feel of the workspace.

Furthermore, the design incorporated improved acoustic treatments to support employee wellbeing and workplace productivity. Bespoke furniture, integrated planting and contemporary finishes added character while creating a welcoming and professional environment.

As a result, the completed workspace offers a seamless balance between design, functionality and flexibility. Moreover, fully integrated building services ensure the office remains adaptable for future tenant requirements.

Delivering a Landmark Office Refurbishment London Project

Despite the challenges associated with a live building and busy Central London location, the team maintained complete control of the programme from start to finish.

Through careful planning, proactive communication and collaborative working, Virtus delivered a high-quality refurbishment that protected tenant operations while enhancing the long-term value of the asset. Ultimately, the project demonstrates how a well-executed office refurbishment London scheme can transform an existing building into a future-ready workplace without compromising quality, programme or occupier experience.

The quality of the completed workspace has also received industry recognition. The project was shortlisted for the Fit Out Awards UK 2026 in the Fit Out Project of the Year – Large Office (Under £7.5 Million) category and also shortlisted by The National Building & Construction Awards recognising the successful delivery of a complex refurbishment programme within an occupied commercial building and the creation of a high-quality workplace environment.

As a result, 107–113 Great Portland Street stands as a flagship example of how strategic refurbishment, careful stakeholder management and design-led delivery can successfully reposition a commercial asset while maintaining uninterrupted occupation throughout the construction programme.

Project Gallery

A small seating nook with two wooden lounge chairs and a circular rug, positioned under exposed ceiling ducts. A glass door leads to another office area, and artwork hangs on the wall.

An office workspace with white desks and ergonomic chairs placed on carpet, with herringbone wood flooring around the perimeter. Exposed ceiling ducts and wall art add to the modern design.

A view of an office space featuring a large glass meeting-room door, shelving with magazines, and part of a long communal desk with task chairs. Light wood floors and exposed ceilings add an industrial style.

A modern open-plan office with a long white desk, several ergonomic chairs, exposed ceiling ducts, and shelves holding books and decorative objects. Light wood flooring transitions into carpet around the desks.

An open office area with rows of white desks and office chairs, light wood herringbone floors, exposed ducts on the ceiling, and wall-mounted shelving holding books and decorative pieces.

A workspace with long desks, greenery-filled planter dividers, and a shelving unit displaying magazines. A glass meeting room is visible in the background, with exposed ceiling ducts overhead.

A spacious office with long shared desks, mesh-back chairs, and planter dividers filled with greenery. Exposed ventilation runs across the ceiling, and a small bar-height table sits in the background.

A lounge-style space with modern blue chairs, a small marble table, a kitchenette with open shelving, and a planter divider with integrated lighting. Soft colors and plants create a warm atmosphere.

A curved desk area with several office chairs, herringbone floors, and a large glass meeting-room door. Exposed ducts run along the ceiling, and a tall plant sits near the window.

A bright open-plan office with long white desks, ergonomic chairs, planter dividers, herringbone floors, and exposed ceiling ducts. A glass meeting room and several artworks line the walls.

Awards and Accreditations

We are committed to being recognised as a modern forward thinking construction company and realise the importance of meeting the standards and expectations of our customers and in recognition of this we are members of Constructionline and CHAS, whilst also having accreditation under ISO9001 & ISO1400.