by Duncan Lamb
Centre Point — arguably London’s best-known office block and certainly its most controversial — is to undergo a £30m remodelling and refurbishment. The building’s owners are MEPC, who acquired the 35-storey landmark at the corner of Charing Cross Road and New Oxford Street when they took over Harry Hyams’ Oldham Estate in 1986.
They now plan to “enhance the public image of the building… removing the poverty of the building in its surroundings and dramatically altering the reception areas, access and parking”.
Architects Allies & Morrison plan to remove the fountains which stand in front of the building and replace them with a glazed covered entrance, an open area called Centre Point Square and restore the pavement around the perimeter of the building.
The alterations will also feature improved access to Tottenham Court Road underground station.
MEPC managing director James Tuckey would not disclose what the current income from the building is or put a figure on the uplift in value resultant from the refurbishment, but he said they “naturally expected a substantial surplus over costs”.
The largest single tenant in the 23-year-old block is the Confederation of British Industry. According to Mr Tuckey, work is programmed to fall mainly out of office hours.
Mr Tuckey said the building’s original architects, R Seifert & Partners, had not been invited to design the remodelling as MEPC felt that a “fresh point of view was required” without feeling that “they [the architects] had a point to defend”.
A planning application for the project has been submitted to Camden council and MEPC hope that work can start next year, with completion being scheduled for 1992.
