6-24 Britannia Street - CAT B | VIRTUS Contracts Limited

Value:

£1.6m

Timescale:

14 Weeks

“The layout encourages cross-department interactions and easier, more spontaneous encounters, which fosters a stronger sense of unity and collaboration.”

Interior of a modern publishers office with wooden shelves filled with books on both sides. A receptionist sits at a desk in a seating area surrounded by large potted plants. The space is well-lit with hanging contemporary lights and natural light from large windows.

Following two decades at their Holborn headquarters, Thames & Hudson embarked on an ambitious relocation to the vibrant city fringes of London, selecting a 16,000 sq. ft. space in the former Gagosian Gallery at Kings Cross. We had previously transformed the space, alongside Stanton Williams into a stunning CAT A office space with polished concrete floors, timber-lined mezzanines, and exposed services. Following the successful completion of the CAT A space, Virtus Designworks were approached to design a CAT B proposal that celebrated the company’s collaborative ambitions and showcased their publications.

This test fit allowed the client and their agents to review the space through the lens of their specific requirements, and ultimately informed the decision to sign a lease. Once the lease was signed, we brought our team together and through workshops with the client, we were able to produce a design that met their brief, was within budget and had an associated programme that worked with the company’s deadlines.

A key design feature of the proposal was to place emphasis on the various divisions in the business. By creating neighborhoods that allowed the departments to sit together within the context of the open-plan space. The business has been able to move from five floors of office, to one open plan space with a mezzanine. This change supports their wider strategy of collaboration and communication.

The successful delivery of Thames & Hudson’s relocation was not without its challenges, particularly in managing the intricate interface between client direct contractors and our own supply chain. With multiple specialist trades operating concurrently, meticulous coordination was required to ensure seamless integration, while maintaining programme and quality standards.

A key complexity arose from the installation of M&E plant, fixtures, and fittings within bespoke joinery elements. This required a highly collaborative effort between our site team, designers and specialist trades. Given the bespoke nature of the joinery, precise spatial coordination was critical to ensure services could be integrated within, while guaranteeing both functionality and aesthetic intent. Through detailed workshops and early procurement of key components, we were able to mitigate installation risks and avoid costly reworks, ensuring the outcome aligned with the high-end design vision.

Additionally, the mezzanine extension posed a significant risk due to the need for Network Rail approvals, which typically come with extended lead times that could have delayed the programme. However, leveraging our existing relationships with Network Rail, we were able to reduce standard approval timescales by half, significantly mitigating risk to the construction programme. This ensured that structural works could proceed without delay, allowing other trades to commence their works in line with the critical path.

Further intensifying the project pressures, the client’s existing lease expired just two weeks after our contracted completion date, leaving a narrow margin to avoid potential costs associated with extending their lease. Recognising the urgency and adopting their pressures, we committed to accelerating our works to facilitate early occupation, ensuring the client could move in ahead of schedule. This proactive approach was well received by the client, enabling them to bring forward the installation of loose FF&E via their direct contractors, who worked in parallel with our final fitout works. While this created a high-pressure environment, the project team’s meticulous management ensured that key milestones were met, allowing for continuity across all parties involved.

Despite the compressed programme and intricate coordination challenges, our team remained committed to delivering early, and to an exceptional standard of quality. Through strategic planning, rigorous attention to detail, and a can-do-focused mindset, we successfully completed the project two weeks ahead of schedule. From conception through to completion, we exceeded client expectations and reinforced our reputation for delivering complex fitouts with precision, efficiency, and real quality.

Project Gallery

Reception area with Thames & Hudson sign, central desk, seating area, and large windows.

Thames and Hudson reception desk. Large glass facade, with potted plants in the background. Exposed services and contemporary lighting above.

Modern minimalist lounge area with two dark gray sofas in an L-shape, light wooden side tables, and a central coffee table holding books and magazines. A shelf beneath the table contains more books. Large potted plants with green leaves are placed on both sides of the room. The white wall behind the sofas features light wood paneling and a large abstract artwork with geometric shapes and symbols arranged in a grid.

Modern, minimalist interior reception space with polished concrete floors and three rows of wall-mounted shelves displaying colorful magazines or books. Large windows and glass doors on the right allow natural light to fill the room. The ceiling features exposed ductwork and contemporary hanging light fixtures.

Modern interior space with a staircase leading to an upper level, large glass windows and doors, and wooden slats on the ceiling. A bookshelf filled with books is visible through the glass wall, and the area is brightly lit by natural light from skylights above.

Modern open interior space with high ceilings, natural light, and polished concrete floors. A bookshelf filled with books and items is on the left above a built-in bench with red cushions. In the center, an open area leads to a glass-walled room with two green chairs and a round table. Above, an upper level with wooden slat railings hosts people seated at tables. Glass doors on the right lead to another part of the building.

Modern bookshelf with multiple shelves displaying a variety of books arranged both vertically and horizontally. The middle section features angled shelves that highlight colorful book covers, creating a visually engaging and organized display.

Modern office space with three booth-style seating areas featuring red cushioned seats, tables, and wall-mounted screens. Two people are seated in the middle booth. Above is an open mezzanine with plants and wooden railings. A large planter with a tree is in the foreground, and the space is filled with natural light and greenery.

Modern indoor space with three booth seating areas featuring round tables and red cushioned benches. One person is using a laptop in a booth, while another is on the phone in a separate booth. The area includes potted plants, a large circular planter with a tree, and an upper level with wooden slats as part of the architectural design.

Indoor space with modern decor featuring two people seated at a small round table in a booth with red seating. A hanging light fixture is above the table, and a wall-mounted monitor is behind them. In the foreground, a large planter with a tree adds greenery, while wooden slats on the upper level contribute to the contemporary design.

Modern library or reading area with large windows, a long counter with wooden stools, and two people conversing. Behind the counter is a large bookshelf filled with books. The space includes indoor plants, a sofa, and a round coffee table, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.

A large bookshelf filled with books, a long table in front holding books and a cup, and a person walking past. Large windows on the right side let in natural light, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.

Indoor space with modern furniture including a round table, chair, and bench seat on the left. A person is walking up a staircase in the background leading to an upper level. The area features glass walls revealing a large indoor plant or tree, with ceiling lights and exposed ventilation above.

Modern office space with large windows providing natural light, a wall of shelves filled with books and items on the left, a round table with chairs in the foreground where a person is reading, and rows of desks with computers and people working in the background—creating a professional and collaborative work environment.

Modern office space with bookshelves filled with books. A person stands in front of the shelves, appearing to select a book. The room includes desks with computers and chairs, a round table with books, and a ceiling with exposed ducts and lighting fixtures.

Modern commercial kitchen or break room with two people seated at a large island counter with wooden stools. Three pendant lights hang above the counter. The background features a large window with black frames, white cabinets, and plants. Tables and chairs are visible in both the foreground and background.

Refurbished office hallway with modern lockers, integrated greenery, and bright ceiling lighting.

Modern publishers office with meeting room in the background, meeting room to the left of the image and stairs to the right leading to a mezzanine workspace.

Refurbished office hallway with glass-walled conference room, integrated bookshelves, and curated children's book display—highlighting creative and functional workspace design.

Refurbished office space with wooden ceiling, built-in bookshelves, glass meeting room door, and custom fish-patterned flooring—highlighting creative interior design.

Indoor space featuring a tree in a large cylindrical planter, enclosed by glass walls. A meeting room with people seated around a table is visible in the background. The ceiling has wooden panels and recessed lighting.

Refurbished conference room featuring contemporary furniture, orange chairs, pendant lighting, built-in shelving, and integrated AV setup for professional meetings.

Exterior of Thames & Hudson London head office building with large windows, glass door, and visible interior featuring bookshelves and plants.

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.