One Sovereign Quay

Rooftop extension and retrofit of a historic asset

Project summary

  • Client: Charles Street Building Group
  • Location: Leeds
  • Sector: Conservation / Workplace
  • Size: 21,000sqft
  • Status: Completed

Awards

  • BCO Awards 2024Best Project under 2500sqm | Finalist [Pending] | 2024
  • Architects' Journal Retrofit Awards 2024Positive Contribution [Over £5m] | Finalist [Pending] | 2024

STORY

One Sovereign Quay is a transformational retrofit and extension project, providing prime Grade-A office space over 5 floors, including basement end-of-journey facilities. modern and bespoke office floorplates and first-class amenities. 

The building, first constructed in the 19th Century, was the subject of French inventor Louis Le Prince’s early film depicting industrial Leeds in 1888.

DLG Architects were appointed at the project outset to reposition this asset, taking advantage of adjacent heights and the riverside location. Two new additional floors of office accommodation have been added with valuable external terraces, along with contemporary interventions in the building facade, achieving full planning for the proposals in a challenging heritage and conservation context. 

The Grade-A workspace profits from VRF air conditioning, low-energy lighting, dedicated roof terraces, end of journey facilities including showers and lockers, secure cycle storage, car parking and electrical car charging points. 

With the addition of the 2-storey extensions to the 4th and 5th floors DLG Architects had to carefully and meticulously co-ordinate consultants’ drawings through the use of BIM to ensure M&E passed through steelwork to maximise ceiling heights on this complex existing structure.

Other additions to the project include for a green roof, superloos and an external courtyard which is in addition to the city centre external terraces with views over the River Aire.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN
TERRACE LEVEL PLAN