Eagle Star House

The Henson team participated in a Joint Venture, overseeing the transformation of a disused office building into 70 modern apartments in a desirable Newcastle location.

The project features a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, each boasting either an external or Juliette balcony. The top two floors are dedicated to duplex penthouse apartments targeting the high-end market.

Previously, the building served as the DVLA's office for several years before being acquired by the SPV in 2018. Our team was responsible for all design and construction aspects of the project.

The renovation required stripping the building down to its shell and core, including the removal of the external brickwork, windows, and all non-structural partitions and M&E components.

An additional four stories were added above the eighth floor, elevating the structure to a total of 12 stories. While the original roof was preserved, a new steel framework was erected to support the additional floors.

Before this extension, it was crucial to maintain the existing telecom equipment as essential infrastructure. It was successfully relocated above the new extension. The innovative design for the telecom mast's relocation was a pioneering solution that ensured continuous service by the telecom provider during construction.

This design and method have been endorsed by the telecom provider's chief engineer and are recommended for future projects with similar challenges.

We successfully addressed design and commercial risks introduced by the transferred design team, including updated load calculations and wind bracing strategies. These measures eliminated the need to remove the existing non-load-bearing concrete roof, saving two months in the construction schedule and resulting in significant cost savings.