DBK appointed by Allied London on City office scheme

Developer Allied London and fund manager Aerium have appointed property consultants DBK to  cost manage the £6 million refurbishment of a City of London office scheme.

The two companies bought 20 Cannon Street – a dated 1960s block – from property company Kenedix after law firm Herbert Smith moved out in 2007. Now on site, the extensive refurbishment will see around 40,000 sq ft of prime space brought back to the market in Spring 2012.

Managing Partner Steven Kelly announced that DBK, based at Austin Friars, Bank, in London, is undertaking cost management and CDM co-ordination services in respect of the refurbishment works. The existing concrete structural frame, lift and stair cores, and part of the existing black granite façade along Bread Street will be retained.

The main change will come from the complete replacement of the existing cladding that dates from an earlier refurbishment in the 1980s which consisted of a series of gantries and metal balustrades. A new panelized and fully glazed curtain wall will also include a copper mesh solar screen on the south façade, said Steve.

In order to improve the street presence and identity of the building, the north-west corner – which is closest to St Paul’s Cathedral – will be cut away at ground level to create a new external covered entrance. The basement level will be converted for use as a restaurant with a separate entrance off Friday Street.

Mr Kelly said: “Allied London is considered to be one of the most highly regarded developers in the UK and we are delighted to be working with the company on the refurbishment of these City of London offices.

“This appointment is further evidence of our ongoing success in 2011 in what remains a tough economic claimte. We have secured a series of commissions to provide our range of cost and project management services for high profile London residential, office and mixed-use developments. We have recently completed major schemes in London with companies including St Modwen, European Land and Barratt Developments and we are determined to continue to increase our business activity throughout the capital with a commercial developer focus.”