The new world headquarters for GlaxoSmithKline.
GSK House is the world headquarters for GlaxoSmithKline, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies globally. The fifteen-storey development in London provides workspace for 3,000 staff and was built at a cost of 330 million pounds. The building was completed in 2002 and officially opened by the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Fire protection systems design from concept through to installation supervision.
Osborn Associates held responsibility for the design of fire protection systems across the entire development. The company provided a concept design in the first instance and developed this through to a fully detailed sprinkler system design, carefully coordinated with the architectural detailing and building services systems throughout.
Beyond design, the company managed the technical aspects of the installation and provided technical supervision of the installation works on site, ensuring the systems were delivered to the quality and standard required for a headquarters building of this calibre.
Coordinating fire protection design across a major multi-stakeholder headquarters development.
The principal challenge on a scheme of this scale was the coordination of the fire protection design with the wider project team. The sprinkler system design needed to satisfy the client's architect while integrating seamlessly with the building's architectural detailing and broader building services infrastructure.
Value engineering played a significant role throughout the design process, requiring the team to balance system performance against cost efficiency without compromising protection levels. Ensuring the correct interfaces between the various fire protection systems and the building's other services demanded close and ongoing collaboration with the design team throughout the project.
