Oktra Completes Milestone Project at The Amp

Oktra has now completed the 150,000 sq ft Cat A refurbishment of the The Amp building, formerly the London Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Trilogy Real Estate following 12 months on site. The work undertaken included designing and repurposing the space specifically for the contemporary education and workspace market.

The building at 41-71 Commercial Road, which previously opened its doors to a small number of higher education providers in September 2023, has now been fully transformed into an innovation hub where creativity, training, education and commerce interlink, housing multiple higher education brands to create a thriving academic community.

The Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, part of Nottingham Trent University, recently moved into their new workspace and welcomed the first students to The Amp, while Oktra is currently working with Global University Systems to deliver vibrant new campus space for the London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA) across three floors of the seven in the building.

The refurbishment included comprehensive structural repair to the building façade, installing more than 200 brand-new windows, redecorating the entire envelope and revamping the building’s services. On the ground floor of the building, three structural columns were removed to create a landmark, versatile events space for higher education tenants.

Notably, the 1960s-built building needed a significant power upgrade to facilitate a functional learning environment. Oktra installed a new 1.5kVA transformer, which will provide the building with four times the original power supply. Crucially, the work undertaken has also improved the energy performance of The Amp, which now holds an EPC B rating.

The completion of this extensive refurbishment by Oktra represents a remarkable achievement in the world of design and build, breathing new life into The Amp as a landmark building.