INSPIRING WORKPLACE WEDNESDAY – ‘AT 26 THROGMORTON STREET, LONDON, EC2’
Inspiring Workplace Wednesday – ‘Central City Cool’
One of the most notable trends across the London office market has been the move from the classic office specification (suspended ceilings, plastered walls) to a contemporary, cool finish and style (exposed services, bare brick or concrete finishes) plus high grade connectivity and sustainability credentials.
The move was predicated over a decade ago by the likes of landlords such as Derwent London and Nuveen plus serviced providers like Techspace (Luke Street). In part driven by demand from TAMIT (technology, advertising, media, information and telecoms) occupiers. And in part when buildings scheduled for refurbishment with limited slab to slab heights (aka service zones) were struggling to accommodate air conditioning, drop ceilings and raised floors whilst leaving an acceptable floor to ceiling height to meet occupier preferences.
In locations such as Shoreditch, Farringdon (Dunstan House) and the South Bank (60-61 Bermondsey Street) it’s now hard to find anything other than these “media, cool and edgy” specifications. Demand has led to higher rents often to higher levels those in more central locations (or did before the pandemic – more to follow).
The trend to these specifications has been slower to catch on in certain locations where finance, insurance and legal occupiers are predominant and as they are often perceived to favour a more corporate style.
On the face of it Legal & General’s 26 Throgmorton Street is a classic Central City office building. However behind the grade II listed facade the available 3rd floor (designed by Minifie Architects) features a suspended grid ceiling with exposed services towards the perimeter. Pre-installed telecoms connectivity allows for speedy and flexible hooking up whilst installed furniture minimises the occupier’s initial cap ex . The ubiquitous cycle storage is provided as a must to attract the younger demographic favouring this style of space and contributes to the BREEAM “very good” sustainability rating.
It may come as a shock to some landlords that the notionally lower level of the specification for these exposed finishes is rarely reflected in cost savings against a classic specification. For example to achieve good noise attenuation without a suspended ceiling requires higher grade, more costly components.
It will be interesting to follow L&G’s progress letting this floor – but for the moment we think that this building is more than worthy of its ‘inspiring workplace’ title.
Please contact us:
For leased offices many on flexible terms. If you would like to review BBG’s leased options please contact Fred Pope | [email protected] | +44 (0) 7880 242177
OR our Head of Flexible Offices Nick Jones | [email protected] | +44 7584 133468 )
Inspiring Workplace Wednesday – ‘at 26 Throgmorton Street, London, EC2’
Inspiring Workplace Wednesday – ‘at 26 Throgmorton Street, London, EC2’
VINTAGE YARD, 60-61 BERMONDSEY STREET, LONDON, SE1
VINTAGE YARD, 60-61 BERMONDSEY STREET, LONDON, SE1
VINTAGE YARD, 60-61 BERMONDSEY STREET, LONDON, SE1
DUNSTAN HOUSE, 14A ST CROSS STREET, FARRINGDON, LONDON, EC1
DUNSTAN HOUSE, 14A ST CROSS STREET, FARRINGDON, LONDON, EC1
DUNSTAN HOUSE, 14A ST CROSS STREET, FARRINGDON, LONDON, EC1
