CASE STUDY: Conversion of an Office Building

Travelodge London Crystal Palace

In many cases, existing office blocks represent a good opportunity for conversion to hotel use, given that the width of the floorplate (typically 13-15m) allows the efficient insertion of a hotel corridor with end on rooms running off it on each side.

London Crystal Palace is a good example of a building that lent itself to this type of conversion.

The hotel opened in 2012 and consists of 89 rooms on the upper levels of the building, with office accommodation on the floors below, and a car dealership at ground level. Although reasonably well served by public transport, the availability of on site decked car parking in a densely-populated area has contributed to the success of this hotel.

Generally, Travelodge can utilise the existing core of the building, replacing the lift cars to the brand standard, but in this case an additional core was required and added to the end of the building as shown in the two photographs above. This enabled the building to provide exclusive access to the different uses on site.

For further information about this conversion please contact Alan Oliver at alan.oliver@travelodge.co.uk

Other examples:

Welwyn Garden City – conversion of part of an existing office building, with office retained in part and ground floor retail. This is an unusual scheme, in that the main entrance to the building is a shared access for the hotel and the offices, which then provides access to the separate reception areas. This property in the heart of the town centre, adjacent to the railway station.

Leicester City Centre – conversion of a vacant office above an existing shopping centre in the heart of Leicester city centre. Forward funded by the Council, which wanted to see this vacant building brought back into beneficial use. The Council also owns the adjacent and linked multi-storey car park and, as part of the deal, a concessionary car parking rate has been agreed for Travelodge’s customers. This hotel is in the prime retail pitch in the city centre, so having discounted, on-site parking is extremely beneficial for our customers.

London Finchley – conversion of part of an existing office building. Offices retained in part, above ground floor retail. Hotel reception and bar cafe at top floor level. This property is 100m from Finchley railway and underground station.