Makeover for Angel Square will add more storeys to 1990s block

Three firms are expected to find out by February who has won a 拢150m scheme to rework a postmodern landmark in Islington, north London.

Plans by AHMM to transform the early 90s Angel Square development, which was designed by Rock Townsend Architects, were approved in September 鈥 despite protests from heritage groups.

The proposals, designed for US investor Tishman Speyer, will see the building鈥檚 external features, which include an Italianate campanile-style clock tower, stripped away and replaced with a glass facade.

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AHMM鈥檚 plans for the redevelopment of Angel Square, seen from Pentonville Road

Others working on the scheme include T&T as project manager, Core 5 as QS, AKT II as structural engineer and ChapmanBDSP as M&E consultant.

Multiplex, McLaren and Skanska are wrapping up post tender interviews for the job with a winner due by early February. 鈥淓veryone is going hard for this one,鈥 said one source. 鈥淭hat will be the case on jobs like these for the next six to nine months as contractors look to fill order books.鈥

Angel Square鈥檚 current three blocks provide 15,000 sq m of office space and a pub, on the corner of Torrens Street and City Road. The building also includes the entrance to Angel Station on London Underground鈥檚 Northern line.

The plans propose adding new storeys and increasing the office floorspace by around 7,000 sq m.

Angel Square 1

Source: google

All external features of the existing Angel Square building, including its clocktower, will be removed

Save Britain鈥檚 Heritage and the Twentieth Century Society had both objected to the makeover but Islington鈥檚 design review panel had concluded that the building, formally named 1 Torrens Street, 鈥渇alls well short of the required design qualities deserving of protection, including listing鈥.

The scheme was OK鈥檇 by Islington councillors who praised its sustainability credentials and public benefits such as affordable workspace.