Thursday, 26 June 2025

Historic Renovation Masterfully Blends Heritage with Modern Security to Earn Police Acclaim


A stunning Victorian building in the shadow of London's Imperial War Museum has been celebrated at the annual Secured by Design (SBD) awards. The project, which transformed the historic property into a state-of-the-art architect's practice, received a 'Highly Commended' honour for its sophisticated approach to security.

Nestled within Southwark's West Square Conservation Area, the renovation required a delicate balance between preserving the building's unique character and integrating robust, modern security. The challenge was to secure the unoccupied property against local crime risks while respecting its heritage. Working closely with EPR architects from November 2019, the local police Designing Out Crime Officer was instrumental in guiding this process.


The result is a seamless fusion of old and new. Key security enhancements include:
  • PAS 24 certified heritage-style sash windows and a new timber front door
  • A discreet, access-controlled inner door to manage visitor entry
  • Comprehensive CCTV and a monitored intruder alarm with glass sensors
  • Strategic lighting and the reinstatement of historic boundary gates

This project stands as a testament to how thoughtful collaboration can protect a piece of history, creating a secure and inspiring workspace for the future.

Receiving the award, Metropolitan Police Designing Out Crime Officer Alan Denyer said: “It was a pleasure to work with EPR on the crime prevention and SBD recommendations for this development. The result is a secure development that provides reassurance to those working at the location whilst respecting the architectural significance of the building."  

 

Edward Wood, Associate Director EPR Architects, said: “As a reinvention of an existing Victorian building, the transformation of All Saints has not only provided us with a beautiful new studio but has also significantly enhanced the building’s security measures.

“Achieving a Secured by Design Development Award certificate, our design introduced a fully integrated alarm and surveillance system and access control measures, including bespoke gates to the side of the building. Due to its historic nature, the integration of physical security upgrades needed to be carefully considered from the outset to ensure their appearance complimented the detailing of the existing building.

“With all the new measures and upgrades seamlessly in place, we feel confident that All Saints is a safe and secure workspace for the EPR team.”

www.securedbydesign.com

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day on our newsfeed site

>> Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog <<

You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website

Low Cost and Free Publicity - Your company can easily benefit from some publicity like the posts above for a contribution towards our layout costs (£75 to £95 plus VAT), payable in advance or you can receive the service absolutely free of charge if you advertise (see below).

We post articles up to twice a day and never delete them - we only archive them each year so that they continue to remain visible to search engines.

To have your story published - just send us your news item, logo and image(s) and we will review the material, make any necessary changes to the wording / wordcount and then advise you when it will be published.

If you are a regular advertiser in our printed and online publications, placing series bookings for adverts or subscribing to our VIP Packages, you will qualify for a specific number of free postings on this blog while you continue to advertise with us. See our media pack for more details.

Also, if you purchase one of our Online and Print Combo packages, Featured Articles or Advertorial packages shown in our media pack, posting on this blog is included in the price.

For details and rates for all of our advertising options in print and online, download our media pack contact us or visit our website.

Door Industry Journal is a trading style of Clearview Group Limited - Company No. 06999111

No comments: