Great Portland

Great Portland

Office Building Redevelopment

One of our recent projects involved transforming a seven-storey former school building that had stood vacant for 8 years into a modern office building. DS5 Construction Ltd took full responsibility for this ambitious redevelopment, bringing the property back into use and upgrading it to meet current commercial standards.
The result is a collection of contemporary, functional office suites on all seven floors, tailored to accommodate diverse businesses.
The project began with strip-out and demolition works, including the removal of outdated partitions and sanitary installations that no longer met current requirements. We then reinstated key services, including the gas supply and electrical systems, while also developing a new internal layout designed around the client’s current and future needs.
Our construction team managed every stage of the redevelopment. This included installing new walls, floors, and ceilings, reconstructing the staircase, and installing new balustrades. We also delivered modern washroom facilities, changing areas, office rooms and a fully fitted kitchen, creating a practical and well-organised working environment throughout the building.
All works were carried out in line with the project plans, under close project management, and in accordance with current construction and design standards. The programme was carefully controlled to ensure that each stage was completed on schedule.
After 12 weeks of intensive work, the building was successfully transformed into a functional and visually coherent office environment, providing a modern setting for business activity and future growth.
Great Portland

Scope of Works

  • Strip-out and demolition of outdated internal elements
  • Removal of obsolete sanitary installations
  • Reinstatement of gas and electrical systems
  • Internal reconfiguration and layout improvements
  • Construction of new walls, floors and ceilings
  • Staircase reconstruction and installation of new balustrades
  • Installation of modern washroom facilities
  • Fit-out of office rooms, changing areas and kitchen
  • Internal finishing in line with current design standards
  • Full coordination and delivery in line with programme requirements

The result

The completed project brought an abandoned building back into productive use, creating a modern office environment with practical, comfortable and well-finished spaces across all seven floors.

Construction Process

A clear timeline of the Great Portland delivery: initial strip-out, targeted structural and layout changes, new partitions with first-fix MEP, plasterboard and surface preparation, then final fit-out including washrooms, kitchens, flooring and lighting across the refurbished floors.

Strip-out and opening works

Structural and partition setup

First fix and drylining

Pre-finish fit-out

Final rooms and kitchen areas

Project Result

A curated selection of completed works showcasing our construction quality, technical precision, and attention to detail across every stage of delivery.

Great Portland – photo 14
Great Portland – photo 1
Great Portland – photo 2

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Why Work With Us

We coordinate and manage every stage of your project, keeping the process organised, efficient and on schedule.

End-to-End Project Management

The process is organised, efficient, and in control from start to finish.

Built Around Quality

We maintain high standards on every project.

Practical, Bespoke Solutions

Each project is shaped around the property and the brief.

Access to Trade Pricing

We work with trusted suppliers. This helps secure favourable material rates.

Compliance with UK Regulations

All work follows current UK Building Regulations and industry standards.

Clear Cost Breakdown

We provide a detailed, transparent cost breakdown.

£10M Public & Products Liability

Comprehensive cover for public and product-related risks.

£10M Employer’s Liability Insurance

Full employer’s liability cover, ensuring protection for everyone working on site.

Reviews

Our clients' reviews

We discovered Ivan and DS5 through our work on a new bathroom. This was step one of a major, full apartment refurbishment. We had never done anything like this before, so we were complete newcomers to the challenges of managing a complex project of this kind. Ivan and his team impressed us so much with the work on our en-suite that it was an easy decision to ask him to quote for the next phases. There are many reasons why I would recommend DS5, but the top three would be the quality of their work, the skill of the entire team, and how incredibly respectful every member of the team is. We lived through every stage of the refurbishment, which involved some very messy and disruptive work, including a full wall removal and the installation of a steel beam. DS5’s preparation and care with our furniture, as well as their management of the mess, were always impressive. We had no skip, and all materials had to be removed manually from our second floor apartment, with no chute allowed. The skill and care shown by each member of the team were outstanding. DS5 handled issues and the usual challenges with patience and an understanding that, as newcomers to the whole process, we tended to overthink things that an experienced builder can resolve easily. The individual members of the DS5 team who were on site for weeks, sometimes months, were all fantastic. Their work ethic was impressive, and it was clear they were proud of the work they do. From plastering to plumbing, painting to preparation, the quality of their work is outstanding. We have one final phase left to complete our full project and would not even consider another builder. The only potential drawback is the team’s availability, but this has not been a problem so far. Before we started our project, I asked friends for builder recommendations. All of them had completed refurbishment work on their own homes, yet none could recommend anyone fully. We would not hesitate to recommend them, that alone speaks volumes about how exceptional Ivan and his team at DS5 are. Thank you Ivan, Max and everyone at DS5.

MJa month ago

Ivan, Max and the DS5 Construction team did a fantastic job on our wrap around extension and upstairs bathroom renovation. They were extremely professional, knowledgeable and conscientious. The attention to detail was magnificent and we are very happy with the final results. Ivan was really supportive throughout the process and gave us some excellent advice. I would highly recommend Ivan and the DS5 Construction team. Thank you Ivan, Olena and Max.

Sam Beckenham3 months ago

DS5 Construction did an excellent job on the complete refurbishment of one of our commercial rental units. Ivan offered excellent service, and the workmen were on time and paid close attention to detail. We could not be more thrilled with the results- they speak for themselves. Thank you so much to Ivan and the whole team!

Southwark Squarea year ago

Ivan’s team did a superb refurbishment of our house in south London - I recommend this company highly for their reliability and the quality of the work and service.

Rose Prince2 years ago

We engaged Ivan and team at DS5 Construction to replace our bathroom, fit a new boiler and replace the water pipe from the house to the street. Throughout the process Ivan, Max and team provided a superb service. They gave excellent guidance and reassurance as we finalised our plans, kept us informed and the project was completed exactly as promised. When there were snags/challenges Ivan’s team were flexible and good natured, finding a practical solution. The team has specialists for each trade (heating, plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling, fitting and finishing) and all were friendly, polite and efficient in completing their piece of the project. The quality of the finish is really first-rate and we are very happy with the end result. We would have no hesitation in heartily recommending DS5 Construction.

Will Kendal8 months ago

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