Six-storey Salvation Army UK and Ireland Headquarters completed in Denmark Hill, London

William Booth College in Denmark Hill was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, whose other projects include Battersea Power Station, Liverpool Cathedral, and the red telephone box. It has served as the headquarters and training college of the Salvation Army since the 1930s.

Typically of Giles Gilbert Scott, it features robust brickwork with a strong vertical emphasis, an aesthetic that TateHindle have honoured in their design for the new headquarters which sit beside the college.

The new home for the charity is both elegant and sustainable, offering cost-effective solutions – which was a key concern for the organisation. The space accommodates a modern workforce and integrates with the surrounding estate, providing approximately 66,660 sqft of internal floor space.  

The exterior of the concrete superstructure is clad in brick panels, and the interior in warm oak. The necessarily deep plan boasts a central atrium that provides visual connections across the space and creates a sense of community. The heart of the building is this bright and airy space. It features a welcoming cafe, adaptable work areas for different needs, casual meeting nooks for chats and brainstorming, and a rooftop terrace with breath-taking city views. 

Instead of a quadrangle-like courtyard as found on the neighbouring campus, the large internal atrium aligns through a glazed opening at one end with the tower of the college. innovative design bridges the college's rich heritage and core values, embodied by the towering structure, with the needs of a progressive and modern workforce for the future.

The design cleverly uses projecting brick piers and recessed windows. This creates the impression of a robust brick facade when seen from the side, while maximising natural light penetration through extensive glazing revealed from a head-on view. The window placement is strategically oriented to optimise daylight based on the building's position.

By mixing contemporary design features and materials, such as high levels of glazing and GRC fins with brick panelling referencing the Grade II listed William Booth College, TateHindle have created a unique and modern building that respects its own heritage. 

As the Salvation Army expect to use their headquarters for the next 120 years, TateHindle prioritised sustainability from the outset. Their strategy focused on minimising the building's environmental impact throughout its lifecycle – from embodied carbon (emissions associated with material production) to ongoing energy use. This commitment to longevity is further reflected in the use of carefully chosen durable materials that align with the client's values and identity.

The building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating thanks to its sustainable features. The structural concrete slab utilises 50% ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), a by-product from the steel industry that reduces reliance on virgin cement. The slab also incorporates ribbing to minimise material usage. These combined efforts not only lessen the building's environmental impact, but also translate to a 20% weight reduction compared to a standard concrete flat slab. This lighter weight allows for smaller foundations, further enhancing resource efficiency. To top it all off, the roof level accommodates around 100 PV panels, generating clean energy on-site. 

Solus was able to provide ceramic solutions for several areas of the building, with a number of products to support the design goals. Our Terrazzo range was used on the staircases and throughout the atrium, Travertine 1 and Eclipse were used in other key areas.

“Working hand-in-hand with The Salvation Army to deliver their new UK headquarters building has been an incredibly rewarding process. Our vision was to reflect their core values with a strong emphasis on wellbeing and sustainability, while also acknowledging their history on the site and enhancing the setting of the adjacent listed campus.” Andrew Tate, Founding Director of TateHindle.

“We were delighted to be brought on for the duration of this project by McLaren. It went very well, and we’re looking forward to working with them in the future. We completed all the flooring both soft and hard elements – tiles, carpet, and vinyl and tiling to the walls. The staircase is visible from all sides, and we were happy to provide a finish that bears scrutiny. One of my personal favourite projects to date. It’s always great working with Pete and all the folk at Solus. They’re responsive suppliers, ready to support on technical and logistical matters.” Daniel Hunt, Contracts Director, Crean Contract Flooring & Tiling