2 Television Centre (2TVC), 101 Wood Lane, London

The outstanding level of services and amenities on offer at 2TVC has blurred the boundary between the hospitality and office sector. Add to that, the fact that the five-star service is matched by the excellence of the workspace and the distinguished design, and it is obvious why this outstanding project has been awarded the 2019 BCO Best of the Best Award. The iconic BBC Television Centre, the original home of creative broadcasting, is now a lynchpin of Stanhope’s new west London mixed-use destination. 2TVC has been sympathetically inserted between the historic studio buildings that now form part of the residential offer and the new BBC offices.

Externally the architecture of the new building is reflective of its surroundings and nestles seamlessly within the existing estate. Internally the project has delivered flexible, modern and sustainable accommodation. There is dual access from either Wood Lane or White City stations. These double-height entrances, linked by an internal street, lead into a stunning spacious atrium, below which sits the office’s reception, with seating, a café and breakout areas, operating 24 hours a day. A pedestrian bridge across the atrium connects people and activity across floors and between businesses.

This atrium brings an abundance of light to the office floors, which all benefit from internal balconies. Finishes such as Canadian Douglas Fir board-shuttered concrete and angled feature windows have brought an air of contemporary design to what was the UK’s first purpose-built TV studio. The utility and digital capability is of the highest standard and achieved a Wired Platinum rating. The design team’s ingenuity is no more evident than in their achievement of building a swimming pool at the top of the building through the incorporation of a thin pretensioned slab and without the need for transfer structures.

 This feat, together with the chilled beam and under-floor services delivery strategy, has allowed the insertion of an additional floor within the planning confines, further maximising the commercial return. The all-round excellence of the building persuaded Publicis Media, an arm of the world’s 3rd largest PR company, Publicis Groupe, to take 212,000 square feet across seven floors. The media firm’s staff have the pleasure of working from the generously proportioned floorplates that are flooded with light from all sides.

  When they are not working from their state-of-the-art office space, they benefit from an array of services to rival any luxury hotel. These include a cinema, gymnasium, a selection of restaurants and a branch of Soho House private members’ club, whilst Westfield White City is a stroll away. 2 Television Centre is an exemplar project demonstrating what can be created through innovative and thoughtful design and delivery, all backed by a desire to establish new frontiers of workspace provision. .