Lewisham Exchange

Award Criteria

Architectural Excellence

The development revitalizes an under-utilized plot with the addition of two new buildings creating a dynamic stepped form on the skyline reaching 110m in height and featuring 758 student homes and 67 affordable homes. Communal student facilities on the ground and first floor level include a reception, study areas, games room, student gym, dance studios with bikes at basement level. A new and improved public realm is created to reinforce key routes into the town centre and provide an address for new flexible commercial spaces at ground level and a new underground station entrance for the proposed Bakerloo line extension. The ground floor spaces are marked with a double-height arched colonnade which frames and encloses the new community square. The project was delivered in 18 months.

Technical Innovation & Sustainability

The major structural system used in Lewisham Exchange is a steel modular system. Modular systems by their nature contain a higher number of discrete columns than are used in traditional construction, placing a greater emphasis on the structural engineer to minimize the tonnage of steel. In Lewisham Exchange there are approximately 13158 steel columns used, emphasizing the scale of the task at hand. The use of a modular system creates certainty in the construction method, load path and materials used which facilitates intensive design of the load bearing members in the building allowing for efficient member design and detailing to be undertaken. In addition to this, steel is a recyclable material which along with the high utilization ratio used in the structural design ensured that the steel tonnage is particularly efficient for a tall building.

Cost Effectiveness

The speed of modular construction reduced the build time for Lewisham Exchange allowing a much earlier occupation of the building than traditional construction, estimated to be 50% faster than a similar traditional build. The client achieved a more certain cost of construction and earlier return on their investment. In addition to these benefits, the project was completed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the benefits of modular construction is the requirement for a greatly reduced workforce on site, alongside the factory produced modules, allowing for social distancing regulations to be adhered to without any significant loss in production. The engineering and construction efficiencies affect both our immediate client, the module manufacturer, the building owner and the occupiers.