Timber Square

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Project at a glance

Reimagining the workplace in the heart of Bankside

Timber Square brings together new construction and adaptive reuse to create a new generation of sustainable workspace in central London. Comprising the new-build Ink building and the transformation of a former 1950s printworks, the development delivers 365,000 sq. ft of workspace and 13,000 sq. ft of retail around a new public square.

Appointed by longstanding partner Mace, SES delivered the £39.1m Mechanical Shell & Core package, providing the primary mechanical infrastructure and major plant installations across the development. Our role also included Stage 5 coordination and specialist design development for key systems including sprinklers, lobby smoke ventilation, expansion systems and flue arrangements.

Taking it offsite

Timber Square provided a significant opportunity to put our manufacturing expertise to work. From our Coventry facility, we manufactured risers, plant rooms and plant skids offsite, improving quality and safety while reducing on-site activity, waste and programme risk.

For the Print building, this included the manufacture and delivery of a complete plant room from Coventry to its controlled installation in central London.

Built around ambitious sustainability

The completed development achieved BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum and NABERS 5*, with the reuse of the existing building helping to significantly reduce embodied carbon.

Our approach supported that ambition. By manufacturing more building services offsite, we reduced waste and on-site activity while creating greater certainty around quality and delivery.

Creating impact beyond the build

The team at Timber Square delivered meaningful social value outcomes that created opportunities for local people and supported the wider community. Exceeding project targets, SES helped create 11 new jobs for local people against a target of 10, and supported five apprentices throughout the project, surpassing the target of three. 

Committed to inspiring future talent, the team volunteered at local schools and colleges through Construction Youth Trust careers initiatives, promoting opportunities within construction and engineering. SES also partnered with London East Alternative Provision (LEAP) to provide a four-week paid work experience placement for a student excluded from mainstream education, helping to develop confidence, skills and future career prospects.