New Wave House
by Thomas-McBrien Architects and New Wave London
Client New Wave London
Award RIBA London Award 2025
The award winner tells us: "The project involved the construction of a new 600m2, lightweight Douglas fir glulam (glue-laminated) timber roof extension atop an existing two storey, light industrial building in North London.
The extension houses a large, flexible office space for New Wave London and additional units for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups within the London Borough of Brent. Designed with sustainability in mind, the use of glulam timber enhances both the aesthetics and the environmental performance of the building. A key feature is the 100m2 roof terrace; which offers outdoor space for tenants and improves biodiversity onsite through green roofs and native planting. This terrace provides a communal area that promotes wellbeing and supports local wildlife.
The project contributes to the local economy by fostering growth for emerging businesses, while adhering to high standards of sustainability, energy efficiency, and accessibility; setting a new benchmark for urban commercial developments."
The jury says: "The latest vertical extension not only provides them with a large, flexible office space, additional units for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a generous roof terrace, but also completes a comprehensive retrofit and environmental upgrade. The design, exploiting the capacity of the existing building to accommodate an additional storey, harnessed the client’s ability to expertly self-build the project."
Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal
Contractor New Wave London
Structural engineer LIM Engineering
Building control Assent Building Control
Sustainability The PES
Planning consultant Montagu Evans
Gross internal area 495m²
