BCO Runner Up!! Altius House Milton Keynes

Schroders Real Estate Investment

"Reception Refurbishment, Toilets & CAT A Ground & 2nd Floors"

Project Description

Inside Limited have refurbished and transformed the ground floor of Altius House in Milton Keynes to create a contemporary reception area and modern CAT A offices.

The works to the office areas included the full strip out of all existing partitions, ceilings, raised floor as well as the mechanical and electrical services.

The reinstatement works included the installation of new raised floors, spray painted soffit, new exposed VRF air conditioning and ventilation system compromising the removal of the existing chiller and installation of new external condensing units, new suspended fully addressable LED lighting with daylight dimming, new fire alarm, spray paint finish to existing internal glazing frames, new blinds, fire proofing, plaster board bulkheads, new risers as well as new sub mains distribution.

The reception area has benefited from being stripped back to it’s concrete shell and has received new glass fire doors, full height solid doors, ceramic tiling, bespoke joinery as well as air conditioning, lighting, power and comms services.

Our team provided a temporary reception in the adjacent building whilst the works were being completed. Additionally, a temporary main entrance to Altius House was created to the rear of the building to avoid disruption to the buildings tenants.

Client: Schroders Real Estate Investment

Project Manager & Cost Consultant: Cumming Group EMEA

Services Consultant: Inside Limited

Architect: Studio Buschow

Building Control: Socotec

Schroders Real Estate Investment

"Reception Refurbishment, Toilets & CAT A Ground & 2nd Floors"

SCOPE

CAT A office refurbishment including full exposed M&E, raised access flooring, daylight-responsive LED lighting, and temporary relocation of main reception.

CHALLENGE

The brief for Altius House called for a high-end, BCO-standard CAT A refurbishment to attract top-tier tenants. The design included fully exposed VRF air-conditioning, cable trays, LED lighting and modern industrial finishes, all within a live, multi-tenanted building.

The project also required the full refurbishment of the main reception while maintaining public access and business continuity, necessitating a temporary reception strategy. The technical complexity of the exposed M&E installation demanded a precise, clash-free build and careful design coordination throughout.

Strip Out, New HVAC

Lighting, Small Power, RAF's

Exposed services, Décor, Fire stopping

Bespoke Joinery, glazing and blinds

Refurbishment

Our Approach

Inside commenced with a full strip-out of the office floors, including ceilings, legacy services and floor finishes. We installed raised access flooring throughout, then delivered exposed VRF systems, complete with steel cable trays, high-level ductwork and fully coordinated containment routes.

To meet energy performance targets and provide visual comfort, we fitted daylight-responsive LED lighting throughout. Fire detection, alarms and emergency lighting were integrated to complement the open soffit and maintain a clean architectural line.

A key challenge was maintaining functionality of the main entrance while the reception was refurbished. We developed and implemented a temporary reception and diverted public access to the rear of the building. Branded signage and temporary wayfinding were installed to maintain a professional appearance and clear navigation.

Our project team coordinated closely with Cumming, the design team and building management to deliver a seamless sequence of works with regular stakeholder updates and zero downtime for existing tenants.

Outcome & Benefits

The project was delivered to programme and handed over with zero defects. The completed floors now meet modern CAT A standards, showcasing exposed engineering and strong visual identity, while the upgraded reception space enhances tenant arrival experience.

The building remained fully operational throughout, and tenant relationships were preserved thanks to careful planning and a professional temporary access solution.

Why it Works

Altius House showcases Inside’s capability in high-performance commercial refurbishment, from exposed MEP to stakeholder coordination and tenant-first delivery. The result is a crisp, contemporary workspace ready to attract and retain high-value occupiers.