In an ambitious undertaking, Cornerstone, experts in fire and security solutions, was tasked with implementing life safety systems during the refurbishment of 77 Grosvenor Street.
Nestled in London's prestigious Mayfair district, this building boasts over 50,000 square feet of high-end office space spread over six floors. The challenge was to upgrade fire protection systems without altering the classical architecture of the property.
Cornerstone opts for Hochiki Europe systems
The property management firm behind the project required a solution that was both discreet and dependable.
Collaborating with design and construction teams, Cornerstone opted for Hochiki Europe systems, known for their seamless integration into luxurious settings. This decision aimed to ensure the building's fire safety while preserving its aesthetic appeal.
Latitude Fire Detection System at the Core
The Latitude fire detection and alarm control system sits at the heart of the project
The Latitude fire detection and alarm control system sits at the heart of the project. Its advanced cause and effect programming, coupled with flexible networking and scalability, made it well suited for the complex setup of a multi-level heritage building like Grosvenor Street.
Latitude's ability to handle intricate configurations allowed for precise management across various zones and floors. To ensure site-wide protection, Cornerstone utilized Hochiki's Enhanced System Protocol (ESP) addressable devices alongside the FIRElink aspirating detection system.
FIRElink is adaptable to many environments, making it particularly effective in protecting sensitive areas like computer rooms, while ESP detectors maintain high performance with minimal visual impact, preserving the building's restored interior charm.
Discrete Solutions and Integration
In decorative or high airflow areas requiring greater subtlety, the FIRElink system was installed using capillary sampling pipes discreetly integrated into the building's structure.
One of the Latitude platform's benefits is its capacity to interface with expansive building management systems (BMS). At Grosvenor Street, this features centralized monitoring and control across fire safety and other building operations.
Latitude’s open integration capabilities allow it to share real-time updates and alarm events with the BMS, facilitating prompt and efficient response coordination by facilities teams. In a high-spec office environment, this integration enhances safety and operational efficiency.
Project Collaboration and Outcome
Patrick Anthony, Project Manager at Cornerstone, remarked, "We have a trusted relationship with the Hochiki team. Their systems and devices are reliable, help reduce false alarms and are designed to aesthetically fade into the background, exactly what this project needed and delivers complete peace of mind for the management team."
With the upgrade now completed, Grosvenor Street benefits from a fully integrated, future-proof life safety system. This installation not only aligns with contemporary building safety standards, but also respects the building’s historic elegance.
When major fire and security specialists - Cornerstone were appointed to deliver the life safety systems for the refurbishment of 77 Grosvenor Street, they faced a unique challenge.
Located in the heart of London’s Mayfair district, the prestigious building features classical architecture and over 50,000 square feet of premium open-plan office space spread across six floors. The goal was to upgrade the fire protection without compromising the building’s refined aesthetics.
The client, a major property management company, required a solution that was robust, reliable and unobtrusive. Working closely with the design and construction teams, Cornerstone turned to Hochiki Europe, a long-standing partner known for dependable systems that blend seamlessly into high-end environments.
Latitude fire detection and alarm control system
At the core of the installation is the Latitude fire detection and alarm control system. Chosen for its powerful cause and effect programming, flexible networking and modular scalability, Latitude was well suited to the demands of a multi-level heritage building.
Its ability to support complex configurations made it ideal for a site where multiple zones, floors and room functions needed to be managed with precision.
To deliver complete protection across the site, Cornerstone selected a combination of Hochiki's Enhanced System Protocol (ESP) addressable devices and the FIRElink aspirating detection system. The FIRElink system is adaptable to a broad range of environments and applications.
ESP detectors
From small, to very large areas, the system is particularly useful in protecting computer rooms or data centers, but can be designed to fit almost any environment. ESP detectors offer high performance with a minimal visual footprint, ideal for preserving the character of the restored interiors.
In areas requiring an even more discreet solution, such as decorative ceilings or high airflow zones, FIRElink was installed using capillary sampling pipes hidden within the building’s structure.
One of the key advantages of the Latitude platform is its ability to interface with wider building management systems (BMS). At Grosvenor Street, this opens the door to centralized monitoring and control of fire safety in conjunction with other building systems.
Open integration
Latitude’s open integration options mean it can share status updates and alarm events in real time with the BMS, enabling facilities teams to coordinate responses quickly and efficiently. For a high-spec office environment, this not only improves safety outcomes, but also supports smoother day-to-day operation and building performance.
Patrick Anthony, Project Manager at Cornerstone, explained the decision: “We have a trusted relationship with the Hochiki team. Their systems and devices are reliable, help reduce false alarms and are designed to aesthetically fade into the background, exactly what this project needed and delivers complete peace of mind for the management team.”
The site at Grosvenor Street is now protected by a fully integrated, future proof life safety system that meets modern building safety standards while maintaining the building’s elegance.
