In becoming the world’s first building to be awarded WiredScore’s SmartScore ‘Platinum’ rating, The Hickman has spearheaded a new era for workplaces, reflecting customers’ changing expectations as a result of shifting work patterns.
With hybrid working now the norm for many businesses, there is increased demand for developers and employers to deliver office space that provides a better experience than the working-from-home alternative. Firms can therefore use this opportunity to leverage their workplaces to attract top talent and retain the best staff. As part of this consideration, the use of smart technology brings environmental, work efficiency and operating cost advantages. This evolution is brought to the fore at The Hickman, a seven-storey building in Whitechapel developed, owned, and managed by GPE, which is setting the standard for sustainability and driving innovation.
Offering a total of 75,280 sq ft of best-in-class workspace, The Hickman also features a large 5,100 sq ft shared courtyard with plenty of fresh air, planting, as well as areas for agile working, socialising and relaxing. The 4,400 sq ft reception is integrated with further space that serves as Makers Café during the day, (the name ‘Makers’ reflects the tool-making industrial heritage of the building in a previous life), and a bar for after-work drinks, open to the public. Additionally, the generous ground floor breakout area space gives plenty of room for collaboration with colleagues.
The Hickman’s location, within Whitechapel and on the edge of the City of London, forms the epitome of a 15-minute neighbourhood with vibrant bars, restaurants, shops, and hotspots such as Old Spitalfields Market on the doorstep. Conveniently connected to two Zone 1 underground and overground stations including Crossrail at Whitechapel, the building is ideally accessible for commuters. Just a nine-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station, the neighbourhood is seeing the continued influx of new homes and amenities, including Whitechapel Market which is set to undergo a multimillion-pound transformation including a new public realm.
The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ building is part of GPE’s ambitious sustainability target to be a net zero carbon business by 2030 and by retaining 53% of the existing building during construction, a significant 49% embodied carbon saving was achieved compared with an equivalent new build construction.
GPE is also extremely proud of the building achieving the world’s first SmartScore ‘Platinum’ rating. The SmartScore rating is a global standard certification that heralds best-in-class buildings which harness technology to enhance the occupier’s experience and provides effortless functionality to optimise the building environment, improve energy efficiency, and reduce occupational costs. At The Hickman, advanced functionality includes sesameTM, GPE’s award-winning smart workplace app, which provides features such as an online concierge service, contactless access control, environmental controls and much more.
Marc Wilder, Leasing Director at GPE, said: “Responding to the new ways of working, we design all our buildings to be tech savvy, offer greater choice and provide the highest sustainable credentials. The Hickman embodies all of this. Providing our customers with more than just space to work in, the building itself creates the opportunity for them to thrive within a creative environment that does the day-to-day thinking for them. The Hickman is just one example of how we work hard to craft workplaces that are enjoyable, comfortable, convenient and inspiring.”
Integrated marketing and communications agency Four Communications Group is the first occupier at The Hickman, taking 17,700 sq ft, of office space on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors.
Architect for the transformation of The Hickman was DSDHA.
