The Drill Hall

The Drill Hall is hidden down a narrow lane in the London borough of Farringdon. This historic building dates to 1888 and was once a headquarter for the London Rifle Corporation during World War I. Today, The Drill Hall functions as a modern office space transformed by optimised daylight and natural ventilation. 

The Drill Hall required the replacement of a leaking roof that once had a two-tier structure of slate and glass. The slate was destroyed by zeppelin bombs and never replaced, but the roof shape and infrastructure remained intact. Expansive refurbishment design plans by E2 Architecture + Interiors included preservation of the roof’s shape to protect the character of the building. Upon inspection by installer Roofglaze, it was agreed that the current single glazing roof system needed to be replaced, and the building retrofit to meet architectural sustainability goals that would answer future building legislation.

Roofglaze sought out a daylight solution partner that could provide a bespoke, lightweight glass roof system that would fit a complex roof structure and improve the comfort of occupants, whilst also remaining as much like the original rooflights as possible. The chosen rooflight would have to be robust enough to balance weight loads and hold its integrity. Solar shading would also be required to reduce existing glare that made occupants feel uncomfortable. After considering several daylighting partners, Roofglaze agreed with building owners that VELUX Commercial would be the preferred daylighting partner.

123 Glazing Panels were chosen to create a clean aesthetic with slim and shallow profiles able to deliver optimal daylight influx. Individual panels were assembled offsite to provide installers with the efficiency and speed they required to safely incorporate glazing onto a roof set in a challenging location surrounded by tall buildings. Thermal comfort would be enhanced through ventilation panels in the lower tier of the Glazing Panels step solution to provide air permeability.

Double glazing also came with a sun protection coating to provide additional solar shading and reduce glare. This has removed the need for cotton drapes previously used in hotter months to block out harsh light. A laminated panel that enhances safety in the event of an accident was added as part of a bespoke daylight solution that is shatter proof.

By the year 2030, government legislation will require all commercial buildings achieve an EPC rating of B. The installation of Glazing Panels as part of a holistic building refurbishment has increased The Drill Hall’s rating from E to B.

A new Glazing Panel rooflight solution means less reliance on artificial lighting and offers improved thermal comfort via natural ventilation.