The project, that overlooks the busy Shoreditch High Street, has been constructed on an unused brownfield site and has turned it into a new place for the local Shoreditch community.
The mixed-use scheme offers flexi-office space, 11 retail units and a new street market underneath that will become the beating heart of the community. The project has a steel frame which forms an exoskeleton for the build, with its design complementing the local area's architecture. The new building has two new office and retail buildings with a glazed connection and plus a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, and adjoining two-storey warehouse, that complete the development.
This project wasn't without it challenges however, with several Victorian buildings in close proximity to the site, plus the overground rail line. A medieval priory sat underneath the build, which had been flagged during the planning process, meaning the project had to be designed around it, whilst a three-metre-thick Victorian brick sewer was also discovered in the area, so additional works were put into preserve it.
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The overground rail line which goes into Shoreditch High Street station runs just three metres from the project, so a a special crane was deployed to lift materials in. The crane was situated on Shoreditch High Street, meaning the team had to closely liaise with Transport for London (TfL) and Hackney Council around bus suspensions and traffic diversions.
The importance of local employment wasn't lost on the Shoreditch Village team, as 30 operatives were hired from the Hackney area alone. Of that local labour, five lived within two miles of the project, and a further eight within three miles of the site. The project also provided numerous work experience places for students from the local area.
The project in total sponsored 28 individuals through work experience programmes, which were held virtually. Sessions were held for school leavers and to diasbaled residents, that included an introduction to construction, creating presentations and how to present, and also mock interviews.
The project team put giving back to the local community at the forefront of the project, as they donated 32 laptops to Hackney residents, which has provided them with increased access to education, training and opportunities which had been severely compromised due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In February, just as the project was coming to a close, the team helped to facilitate a work placement programme with Rise 365, a charity based on the Kingsmead Estate, Hackney. Each participant had the opportunity to meet and work with ISG and our subcontractors, they learnt about our apprenticeship programme and the different roles that could be available to them.
Project Director, Jim Knowlton, said: "We're delighted with the completion of this project for our client, Brockton Capital. The team has worked incredibly hard on this project and they have delivered it to an incredibly high standard.
"We've had challenges along the way, but thanks to strong team collaboration and a good relationship with the client we can stand here today very proud of this major development in the heart of Shoreditch."
From the steel frame exoskeleton to the glass column core that is visible on both sides, Shoreditch Village phase two, fits perfectly alongside it's Grade II counterparts.
