Tucked beside Old Paradise Gardens and just moments from the busyness of Albert Embankment, Paradise11 transforms a challenging urban site into one of London’s most forward-thinking workplaces. 

Developed by Bywater, the six-storey mass-timber building brings together wellbeing, sustainability and contemporary design to create a warm, healthy and highly efficient office environment, which in turn is setting a new standard for how we design in dense city locations. 

Positioned on a tightly constrained site between railway arches and residential buildings, Paradise11 transforms a challenging urban plot into a modern & sustainable workplace.

Working on Paradise as the MEP & Sustainability Consultants has been incredibly rewarding for our teams involved, and seeing the building come to life to such a high standard is fantastic. With exposed ceilings and visible services, the design embraces a modern aesthetic that celebrates the character of the CLT and glulam frame.  

Driving Sustainability Beyond Industry Targets 

Our team helped to shape a building that performs far beyond current benchmarks. Early-stage modelling, energy strategy development and extensive coordination with the design team helped to achieve: 

• BREEAM: Excellent 

• WELL: Gold 

• EPC: A 

• Around 20% improvement beyond UKGBC operational energy targets 

• MEP is embodied carbon 8.9% better performance than the GLA benchmark 

• 272m² of rooftop PV for onsite energy generation 

These achievements indicate that Paradise is well-positioned for emerging regulation and performs efficiently compared with many UK office buildings. 

Paradise is one of the first large-scale commercial projects in the UK to use Daikin’s VRV-5 R32 refrigerant system, chosen for its low global warming potential. From the start, our team focused on creating a building that wasn’t just energy-efficient but was also a great place to work for its future occupants, with natural ventilation to improve comfort, low-carbon materials to reduce environmental impact, and carefully considered thermal design. 

The building is also WELL accredited, reflecting the focus on occupant health, comfort, and overall quality. 

The building has achieved WELL accreditation, a recognised standard that places human health and wellbeing at the centre of design and operation. This certification highlights the project’s commitment to creating an environment where occupants feel healthier, more comfortable, and more productive every day. From enhanced air and water quality to thoughtful lighting, acoustic comfort, and wellness-driven amenities, the spaces within Old Paradise are crafted to support both physical and mental wellbeing. The result is a workplace that not only performs at a high level but also helps people thrive. 

Technical Coordination with Mass Timber 

Working with mass-timber structures, such as Paradise11, requires exceptional coordination. Our team worked closely with Webb Yates, B&K, and OFR Consultants to integrate services within CLT slabs and glulam beams while meeting stringent fire and structural requirements. 

This allowed the design team to develop one of the first certified solutions for fire dampers suitable for timber floors and ensure all services could be routed through the structure without compromising fire safety or visual aesthetics.  

Awards and Recognition

Paradise11 brings together low-carbon materials, smart engineering and elegant design to create a workplace that is both inspiring and exceptionally efficient. As mass timber gains momentum across the industry, this project shows just how far the approach can go. It also reflects what we do best at Wallace Whittle: working closely with clients and design teams to solve technical challenges, protect design intent and push environmental performance far beyond expectations. Paradise 11 is a blueprint for the commercial buildings of the future, and we’re proud to have helped make it possible.

If you’re looking to reduce operational carbon, push technical boundaries, or deliver next-generation buildings, contact us at [email protected] 

As winter approaches, we’re excited to highlight the newest internal promotions across Wallace Whittle. November is traditionally a busy and energising period for our industry, and it offers the ideal opportunity to celebrate the people whose talent and dedication power our success.

Our continued growth wouldn’t be possible without our team, and it’s inspiring to see so many individuals taking on new challenges, stepping into leadership positions, and progressing within the business.

Swipe through the team’s photos to hear directly from them about their promotion and new role.

Glasgow

The recent promotions within our Glasgow office reflect both individual achievement and the wider ambitions of the business. As the team continues to grow, we must empower those who embody our core values of leadership, quality, and teamwork. These promotions support our strategic priorities and ensure that Glasgow remains a strong driving force within Wallace Whittle.

“We believe in investing in our people and supporting them as they develop their careers. The progress we’re seeing in our Glasgow office goes to show the drive and commitment of our team, and it’s this effort that fuels the wider growth of the business. With the company moving into an exciting phase, recognising and rewarding that hard work through promotions remains a key part of our approach.”

Barry McKeane, Location Director for Glasgow shared.

Warrington

As Wallace Whittle continues to expand its presence in England, we are proud to recognise the contributions of our talented team members in Warrington, who have played a pivotal role in driving this progress. Paul Dean, Director of our Warrington and Manchester offices, shared his thoughts on the recent promotions within his area.

“Alisdair & Colin’s promotions from Associate to Associate Director are true recognition of their technical performance across multiple sectors, their longevity and commitment to Wallace Whittle and their relationships and trust gained with repeat clients. Matthew has also been promoted to Intermediate Mechanical Engineer, recognising the outstanding performance he has shown since joining us as a Graduate Engineer.” Paul shared.

This kind of leadership has been instrumental in building a strong foundation for our growth in the English market. The Warrington team’s achievements reflect our wider strategy to strengthen our leadership capability as we continue expanding across the UK.

Belfast

The latest promotions in Belfast create space for greater leadership, new responsibilities, and fresh opportunities for growth. Those stepping up will be instrumental in developing their teams, enhancing quality, and helping to bring consistency across the business. Their ability to support, motivate, and work collaboratively with others will be central to our success moving forward.

“It’s been a fantastic year for our Belfast office. We’ve moved into our new office space, grown our team, and built real momentum. Aidan has been instrumental in driving this forward, and Nick’s arrival has added even more strength and depth to the team. Their promotions to Associate reflect their dedication and the positive impact they’ve made. Huge congratulations to both, I couldn’t be happier for them“

Gavin McCausland shared, Location Director for Belfast.

Birmingham

Since launching last year, our Birmingham office has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Darren Wright, alongside Carl Saxon, Regional Director for the South of England. The team continues to demonstrate exceptional dedication, quality, and hard work, driving the growth of the office and delivering excellent outcomes for our clients. It is this commitment and “graft” that we are proud to recognise through promotions within the team.

“I’m proud of the progress our Birmingham team has made since opening last year. Seeing the dedication, talent, and teamwork every day is inspiring, and Lewis’s promotion is a great reflection of the hard work and commitment he has shown. It’s a pleasure to see our people grow and succeed.” Darren shared.

Aberdeen

Our Aberdeen office, Wallace Whittle’s most northern location, continues to go from strength to strength, serving projects across the Highlands of Scotland. The team’s dedication to high-quality delivery and client service are central to this success, and we are pleased to recognise this through a well-deserved promotion within the office.

“Douglas is a technically strong and competent engineer and his work is always carried out to a very high standard.  His promotion to Senior Electrical Engineer is very well deserved.”

Director of Aberdeen, Andy Forbes, shared.

BIM

Our BIM team is fundamental to the success of Wallace Whittle, providing expertise and guidance across projects nationwide. They ensure the consistent application of standards, facilitate seamless collaboration, and help mitigate risks, supporting both our teams and our clients. This year, several members of the BIM team have received well-deserved promotions, a testament to the department’s ongoing success and the high-quality contributions they make to the business.

“BIM is at the heart of how we deliver projects efficiently and consistently across the country. Seeing so many team members promoted this year is fantastic recognition of their dedication, skill, and commitment to supporting both our teams and our clients.”

Associate Director, Martin Lorimer shared

This year’s promotions across our offices reflect the talent, dedication, and hard work of our people. Each promotion is not just a recognition of individual achievement, but also a reflection of the collaborative spirit, expertise, and commitment that drives Wallace Whittle forward.

As we continue to grow and take on exciting projects, we remain proud to invest in our people, nurturing their careers and celebrating the successes that make our business stronger.

If you’re interested in joining Wallace Whittle or learning more about our ethos, please reach out to us at [email protected] or visit WW:Careers

Our target is to double our England turnover within the next three years. This bold ambition is underpinned by our unwavering commitment to quality and a client-focused approach, delivered through consistent standards across all Wallace Whittle locations.

With six decades of expertise rooted in Scotland, and well-established offices in London and Warrington, our recent launches in Birmingham and Manchester further demonstrate our drive for progress and sustained growth, and we’re not stopping there.

Most recently, Carl Saxon has joined Wallace Whittle as Regional Director, with responsibilities for growth across the South of England, supported by our Birmingham and London offices. With 27 years of industry experience, Carl brings a wealth of knowledge in developing teams and delivering large-scale projects across the UK. He will work closely with our Directors in Birmingham and London to propel further growth and development.

Carl shared with us,

“Wallace Whittle is first and foremost a business centered around people – colleagues, clients and communities. That’s what delivers real success and will be central to moving forward and increasing the brilliance the business already enjoys.

The standard of quality and technical expertise is unmatched so it’s now about solidifying our presence across England and becoming the defining characteristic of building services engineering. This quality and personal touch is why the team is tackling some of the sector’s biggest challenges like regulation compliance – for example securing Gateway 2 approvals – with success and a smile.

We are also keenly aware of the skills gap within our field and are proud to be supporting accessible training pathways for the next generation, as well as encouraging career progression. We are inspired by the opportunities that lie ahead and want to promote that throughout the business, the region and the industry.”

With a strategic focus on growth across the Midlands, Carl will work closely with Birmingham Location Director Darren Wright, who has played a key role in establishing our presence in the region over the past 18 months, including a recent office move to the prestigious Colmore Business District to support team growth. Darren shared:

“While we have built a strong residential portfolio in Birmingham, this continued growth is what will enable us to branch out into new territory; life sciences, healthcare, and the soaring demand for data centres. Working seamlessly and collaboratively with Warrington, Manchester and London gives us unrivalled, collective experience. We are a safe pair of hands, offering consistency regardless of where the resource comes from.”

We’ve also strengthened our London office, welcoming 14 new team members in the past two months, and relocating to a larger space. London Location Director Peter Kirk, who has been leading operations since his appointment in August, shared:

“Our team in London benefits from deep, and longstanding client relationships that Wallace Whittle has supported through extremely complex and unusual schemes. However, we are not just relying on our past success; it is important to be focused on the future. This means continuing to deliver the quality that we are known for, being that reliable partner for new and existing clients, and making room for fresh talent.

That’s how we make sure our great reputation is only going to grow further. We have the people, the expertise, the resources, and the forward plan – and it’s by bringing that all together with our personal touch to relationships that delivers true success for clients and their projects.”

Carl added, saying:

“Wallace Whittle measures success not just by commercial growth, but by the continuous stream of repeat business, which is seen as the ultimate barometer of client satisfaction and technical delivery excellence. Our England teams are dedicated to ensuring every project serves as a vehicle for the next one, fostering engaged, long-standing relationships across the industry.”

The capability and credibility of our team is reflected in major projects such as the recommenced Smithfield regeneration in Birmingham, one of the largest schemes in the Midlands outside of HS2, and the redevelopment of the Bush House South West Wing at King’s College London, led by Kier.”