BBC Worldwide Staircase

Situated in London’s White City district is the new BBC Worldwide Headquarters , a building which once housed the former BBC news broadcasting facility Stage 6, built in 1997.

Before the commercial arm of the BBC relocated to the site, the interior underwent a “cathedral-like” refit. HOK Architects redesigned the interior to be a communal working environment that would encourage cross-functional collaboration for the employees that work there.

The space was opened up over six floors, removing low ceilings, enlarging the office spaces, and relocating the main lift shaft from the centre to the rear of the building. This move created the central 26-foot-diameter atrium that greets you as you enter the building, showcasing the helical staircase that was fabricated and installed by Littlehampton Welding Ltd.

Littlehampton Welding prefabricated the staircase and installed it in nine separate sections. The impressive structure winds upwards from the atrium base and communal area, connecting each of the six floors with spacious landings. The central location and size of the staircase, encourages people to use it more than the lifts and to interact.

Along with the central staircase, Littlehampton Welding also fabricated and installed balustrade around the opening onto the atrium for each floor, and stainless steel handrails to the staircase and the amphitheatre stairs that lead into the atrium at ground level.