The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has a membership of around 700 unions representing over 4.5 million transport workers from some 150 countries. The ITF has offices in Nairobi, Ouagadougou, Tokyo, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Amman, Moscow and Brussels and its headquarters in this Grade II - listed building in Southwark, London. The ITF appointed us for the transformation of the fourth floor which provides conference and meeting space for ITF delegates from all over the world with simultaneous translation facilities, and may also be offered for use by outside organizations.
The fourth floor was stripped out and reconfigured, and the old mechanical and electrical services installation replaced with a new energy-efficient system in a much smaller space. Two new mezzanine floors either side of the central lift core, one used for the new services plant room, provide an extra 80m² of floor area. The whole east end which was little used is now a more flexible and usable meeting space which can be divided into two smaller spaces. Two large, insulated and double-glazed dormer rooflights provide improved height, daylight and natural ventilation.
Storage space has greatly increased, allowing flexibility in the use of conferencing furniture and an improved audio-visual and simultaneous interpretation system. The spaces around the lift core are now flexible areas that can be used for food service or for break-out sessions.
The changes to the services plant have allowed improved and more spacious provision of toilet and circulation space for visitors who now have a coats storage wall and space to meet colleagues between sessions. The works were carried out by Styles&Wood, main contractor, with the lower floors of the building remaining occupied throughout the 13 week contract.
