Unilever’s new HQ uses Obexion security shutters

Published: September 15, 2025

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Summer 2025 saw the practical completion of a major development, Eden Campus, St. James Road in Kingston upon Thames. The Campus comprises two major developments and a multi-storey car park:

Sunlight House – an eight-storey 195,000 sq ft office building which will complete fit-out in Spring 2026 with the entire office space becoming the new HQ for Unilever.
Second Office Building – 10 storeys, 96,000 sq ft, to be leased as prime office space in central London.

The two office buildings sit within a landscaped environment alongside an impressive new car park and cycle block with 350 car spaces, extensive cycle storage and hotel-style end of journey facilities, with a rooftop garden providing outstanding views over the River Thames towards Hampton Court Palace.

The Design Challenge

The main contractor for the construction was McLaughlin & Harvey, but Charter Global were initially approached in January 2024 by the architects, Darling Associates, who had designed the car park with a unique honeycomb-type steel cladding.

They were looking to compliment this unusual architecture with security shutters that would fit with the contemporary aesthetics.

A specification was issued for two shutters needing to meet LPS 1175 Issue 8 B3 (SR2) standard, but with a free open area for ventilation to meet the requirements of the extraction system for exhaust fumes.

An independent Pass door was also needed to be adjacent to the shutter, so that there could be pedestrian access without opening the main shutter.

Charter Global’s Solution

There were two phases of the project for Charter Global.

Phase 1 required an Obexion ID industrial door:

Rated to LPS 1175 B3 (SR2) standard,
with a perforated shutter curtain,
a steel frame, a security door, and an over panel to cover the loading bay opening.

With an opening width of nearly 7 metres, the Obexion ID industrial door was chosen as it is one of the few certified shutters with perforations that can be manufactured to a maximum width of 8 metres.

A robust, bespoke steel frame was designed by Charter Global specifically for this site, to enable the shutter, door and over panel to all be fully supported.

In Phase 2 of the project, an Obexion UD B3 (SR2) Vissio 20 was installed to the Car Park – again with bespoke steel frame. Site constraints meant that a chain drive motor was used for this product.

The Obexion ID industrial door range can be manufactured with a perforated curtain giving up to 25% free airflow, with the Obexion Vissio 20 giving 13% ventilation, to meet extraction specifications, whilst still giving high security protection.