Located in the heart of London, Bloomberg’s new European headquarters is designed to complement the surrounding buildings and create a natural extension of the city. At ten stories high, the new HQ building protects views of nearby St. Paul’s Cathedral and is in harmony with the heights of the neighboring structures.
The design, created by Foster + Partners, comprises two buildings. Glazed bridges connect the separate buildings across a retail arcade that bisects the site. This reinstates a historic route that once connected Cannon Street with Watling Street.
The headquarters’ ten stories are divided into a two-story colonnaded base, six office floors, and two top levels set back above the cornice line. The façade combines sandstone with deep bronze blades to create an understated look to blend in with the materials used in surrounding buildings. The interior of the new HQ creates a flexible, amenity-laden space for staff.
Rendering courtesy Foster + Partners.
Three new public spaces will be created as part of the project. Additionally, the archaeological remains of the Roman Temple of Mithras will be restored to their original location on the site.
The headquarters is targeting BREEAM Excellent and LEED Platinum ratings through its use of natural ventilation, roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, and a combined cooling heat and power system. The headquarters is expected to be completed later this year.
Rendering courtesy Foster + Partners.
Related Stories
| Apr 30, 2014
Visiting Beijing's massive Chaoyang Park Plaza will be like 'moving through a urban forest'
Construction work has begun on the 120,000-sm mixed-use development, which was envisioned by MAD architects as a modern, urban forest.
| Apr 29, 2014
Best of Canada: 12 projects nab nation's top architectural prize [slideshow]
The conversion of a Mies van der Rohe-designed gas station and North Vancouver City Hall are among the recently completed projects to win the 2014 Governor General's Medal in Architecture.
| Apr 29, 2014
USGBC launches real-time green building data dashboard
The online data visualization resource highlights green building data for each state and Washington, D.C.
| Apr 18, 2014
First international buildings among 700-plus certified by BOMA 360 Performance Program
In the first quarter of 2014, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International certified 66 properties in the BOMA 360 Performance Program for commercial real estate markets across the U.S and, for the first time, abroad.
| Apr 16, 2014
Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]
Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: repair the windows in place, remove and refurbish them, or opt for full replacement.
| Apr 15, 2014
12 award-winning structural steel buildings
Zaha Hadid's Broad Art Museum and One World Trade Center are among the projects honored by the American Institute of Steel Construction for excellence in structural steel design.
| Apr 15, 2014
Chipperfield's sparkling brass-clad scheme selected to be new home of Nobel Prize
The distinctive building, with its shimmering vertical brass elements and glass façade design, beat out two other finalists in the Nobel Center architectural competition.
| Apr 11, 2014
ULI report documents business case for building healthy projects
Sustainable and wellness-related design strategies embody a strong return on investment, according to a report by the Urban Land Institute.
| Apr 11, 2014
First look: KPF's designs for DreamWorks in the massive Shanghai DreamCenter
Two blocks of offices will be centerpiece of new cultural and lifestyle district in the West Bund Media Port.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.