EVS played a pivotal role as the ventilation contractor for two significant refurbishments at one of London’s most iconic buildings, News UK

Overview

Essex Ventilation Services (EVS) was contracted for a major refurbishment on the 14th floor of News UK for talkSPORT radio. Prior to this, EVS supported the studio remodel for Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio. Both refurbishments took place consecutively at the News UK Building, located at 1 London Bridge Street. Designed by Renzo Piano – the architect of The Shard – the News UK building (formerly known as The Baby Shard) opened in 2014. It is now home to some of the world’s leading media corporations, including its latest residents. The talkSPORT team first took to the air from their new studios on Thursday 7 March 2019. Presenter of the Sports Breakfast Show, Alan Brazil kicked off proceedings as the first to broadcast from the new studios on the 17th floor. He was clearly elated with his new surroundings at News UK, commenting on the views of St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and The Shard. During his show, Brazil welcomed a bumper selection of celebrity guests to from News UK studios, including Ally McCoist, Dean Saunders, Ian Holloway, George Groves and Olly Murs. Taking to Twitter Olly Murs gave his followers a tour of the studios, commenting, “What an unbelievable building this is, much better than the old one.” The new talkSPORT studios were developed within, what was originally an open plan space on the 17th floor. It was divided into several studios, breakout zones and offices. Complete with funky and contemporary design the new talkSPORT studios are a vast contrast from their previous premises in Hatfields. For the refurbishment, EVS were responsible for modifying the existing ventilation system. The project followed the completion of a studio refurbishment for the Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio, which is also located at News UK. Both refurbishments required an approach that was sympathetic to the studio environment.

Scope

Inside the studio spaces, all the ductwork was concealed within ceiling voids and the majority of the ductwork outside the studio spaces in both refurbishments were left exposed to create a contemporary design feature. Attenuation and lined bespoke plenums formed part of the noise reduction strategy to suit the studio environments allowing the ventilation system to operate continuously during recording sessions. Exposed ductwork must be installed with meticulous precision and EVS has the expertise to create this desirable look that so many businesses, architects and interior designers favour. EVS were delighted to have been part of two major milestones within radio broadcasting and to have worked in such an iconic building.