PLP Architecture Transforms London's Skyline with 22 Bishopsgate: A Vertical Village Redefining Urban Living
22 Bishopsgate, the impressive tower designed by PLP Architecture in collaboration with AXA IM - Real Assets and Lipton Rogers Developments, has become an iconic landmark at the heart of the City of London's financial district. Standing tall as the tallest tower in the area, its innovative design and thoughtful approach have transformed the cityscape while respecting its historic surroundings, including the Bank of England Conservation Area.
Client
AXA Real Estate and Lipton Rogers Developments
Facility
Multi-tenant tower with offices, amenity spaces and public realm
Size
186,000m²
Status
Completed
The tower's distinctive twenty-three-sided, faceted glass form not only provides a strong architectural presence but also enhances the overall harmony among the surrounding towers. The emphasis on well-being is at the core of the design, with features that prioritize the individual's comfort and productivity. Higher ceilings, ample daylight control, improved air quality, and enhanced amenities contribute to supporting both traditional and new ways of working.
Beyond the office spaces, approximately 100,000 square feet are dedicated to facilities aimed at enhancing the everyday experience for both the building's occupants and the public. This vertical village concept caters to the needs of its 12,000 inhabitants, offering a comprehensive range of amenities and services.
The building boasts an impressive Bike Park, equipped with 1,699 spaces, showers, lockers, safety classes, and bicycle repair facilities, promoting sustainable commuting options. On the second level, The Market provides a vibrant culinary experience with open kitchens, fresh food options, and an inviting external terrace. The double-height Exchange on the seventh floor offers a nurturing environment for start-ups, providing co-working spaces, media suites, meeting rooms, and networking opportunities. The Gym features state-of-the-art training facilities, including a double-height glass climbing wall, high-altitude room, and personalized training classes, accompanied by a juice bar. For relaxation and well-being, The Retreat on the forty-first level offers Pilates, yoga, and health services. The Club on the fifty-seventh floor provides occupiers of any size a dedicated space for hosting clients and conferences.
Moreover, 22 Bishopsgate establishes a positive relationship with the city and the public. Pedestrian access is revitalized at the base, transforming the area into a landscaped public open space, inviting people to enjoy the surroundings. The building incorporates various systems and practices to enhance well-being in the public realm, including wind mitigation canopies and a streamlined delivery management system that reduces vehicle trips and emissions. At the summit, five levels of restaurants, bars, and an open-air terrace offer breathtaking views and a unique way to experience the city.
Art and craftsmanship are seamlessly integrated into the architectural design, continuing the legacy of the City Guilds. The entrance hall, resembling a multi-level art gallery, showcases curated temporary exhibits, while permanent installations, such as Alexander Beleschenko's glass canopies and Bill Amberg's handcrafted reception 'library,' add an extra layer of sophistication. Furniture artist Pierre Renart's sculptural walnut pieces further elevate the aesthetic, while artist Bruce McLean contributes bold and vibrant art to each passenger lift car, complementing the speed and efficiency of London's fastest lifts.
Smart technologies are at the forefront of 22 Bishopsgate, providing a seamless experience from the front door to every corner of the tower. Opt-in facial recognition technology simplifies staff entry, and QR entry codes sent with visitors' meeting invitations eliminate the need for a traditional reception desk queue. Friendly and helpful roving receptionists are available to assist as needed. The tower's low-iron glass closed-cavity facade, equipped with operable blinds, allows 55% light transmission, significantly surpassing standard insulated glazing. A custom mobile app empowers tenants to personalize their environment, connect socially, and access a wide range of services and events.
With its WiredScore Platinum and ActiveScore Platinum certifications, 22 Bishopsgate exemplifies the highest standards of connectivity and sustainability. The tower has been designed to achieve both a BREEAM Excellent rating and WELL Certification, demonstrating its commitment to environmental responsibility and the well-being of its occupants.
22 Bishopsgate represents a transformative approach to urban living and workplace design, offering a harmonious blend of functionality, aesthetics, and community engagement. As a Vertical Village, it sets a new standard for future developments, redefining the urban experience in London's financial district and beyond.
MCM Triumphs at BCO 2023 Awards with Multiple Wins
MCM are proud to announce that Diageo’s Global HQ are WINNERS of a 2023 BCO Award for the Best ‘Fit Out of Workplace’.
The project vision was to create a premium workspace that supported an inclusive and purpose led culture. An inspirational and truly sustainably conscious destination that was fit for the future and re-establishes the business within the heart of London’s hospitality community.
Diageo’s Global HQ has delivered on this vision.
It is a new destination where workspace, brand, hospitality and experiences co-mingle and connect to create an inspiring new home. It is both a place and a space at the same time. A place to meet, to share, to learn, to be inspired and moreover to enjoy and to celebrate. It is also a space, through its integrated technology, that supports all forms of interaction, creativity, collaboration and connection. Owing to the environment created, the people of DIAGEO and their customers, now choose to come here. The space is alive. It has become a destination.
Client: DIAGEO
Project Manager: JLL
Interior Designer: MCM
Mechanical/Electrical Engineer: Cundall
Structural Engineer: The Morton Partnership
AV Consultant: Cordless
Contractor: Shell & Core: ISG | CAT A & CAT B: ISG
Developer: Lazari Properties
If you would like to learn more about these projects, please contact: [email protected]
Studio Pringle's Renovation Breathes New Energy into FCA Offices
Former RIBA president Jack Pringle’s new practice has completed its renovation of watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority’s Edinburgh offices, which are now a base for 200 staff.
Pringle, who was RIBA president from 2005-07, launched Studio Pringle with daughters Maxine and Frankie in 2021, following his exit from US firm Perkins & Will where he was EMEA chief.
Pringle co-founded Pringle Brandon with Chris Brandon in 1986 before selling the business to Perkins & Will in 2012.
Maxine Pringle, who is a former associate director at the late Will Allsop’s All Design, led on the FCA scheme, which is Studio Pringle’s first major project. Both she and Frankie are graduates of the Bartlett School of Architecture.
Studio Pringle’s renovation of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Edinburgh offices
Frankie Pringle worked with her father at Perkins & Will before moving out of architecture to work at shared office provider WeWork. She is innovations director at the new practice.
Studio Pringle said the FCA facility had been renovated by opening up a central atrium and connecting two levels with a spectacular staircase to encourage staff mixing, the breaking of organisational silos and collaboration within a wide choice of work settings.
As well as areas designed to foster interraction, the building also features a suite of confidential meeting rooms.
The office design is rooted in Edinburgh as a place and features colours from tartans, Scottish tweeds and blonde sandstone. References also include Edinburgh crystal and Scotland’s industrial heritage.
FCA chair Ashley Alder and executive director of markets Sarah Pritchard formally reopened the building last month.
Designing Workspaces that Promote Positive Employee Wellbeing through Empathy
In this article, the conversation between workplace design consultant Steve Brewer at Burtt-Jones & Brewer, Associate Director Mbali Chaise at iPWC Ltd, led by Vanessa Champion Editor and Publisher at the Journal of Biophilic Design, at the Workspace Design Show is discussed. The trio discusses how empathetic workplace design can positively impact employee wellbeing. The article explores how understanding the individual users of a workspace is the key to building empathy, which can lead to a more positive environment. It also touches on the importance of providing users with control over their space to tailor it to their individual needs. The article also highlights the importance of designing workspaces with the senses in mind and how engaging the workforce in the design process can result in a better, more effective workspace design.
Well, let's start with clarifying what the term empathetic means.
“Empathetic: showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another.”
So how can design play a part in what sounds like something that is behavioural?
1. What do we mean by an “empathetic workplace?”
To build true empathy in the workspace, we need to dive deep into understanding who works there, how they interact, and the impact of those interactions.
Taking time to know and understand the individual users of the workspace is at the core of crafting successfully empathetic workspaces and positive employee wellbeing.
Questionnaires, surveys, workshops and interviews, are key engagement tools for establishing a good understanding of the people that will use a workplace. By truly listening to the end user’s desired workplace experience, are we able to open up a world where we create environments tailored to support everyone.
When we take the time to gain an understanding of an office culture, it serves as more than just knowledge - it allows others to see and gain better understanding of each other, allowing us to build bridges between ourselves and our colleagues. These are the pieces of the jigsaw that all need to come together within this work environment and creating an “empathethic workplace”.
2. We often speak about human-centric design. What design elements do you include that have a direct positive impact on the wellbeing and motivation of people using the space? Can you give us examples as well?
Choice and ‘tailorism’ is what users are looking for, they crave control over the spaces they are using. A true diversity of spaces enables users to select working environments which are best for them at any given time.
The built environment is typically a fixed thing. Meaning, the windows don't open because that will mess with the air-conditioning. The lights come on, and go off. If you're lucky, you can choose how to make your own tea or coffee!
Working from home, which has increased more so over the years, where we all can open doors, turn the heating up, turn the lights on/off or angle that desktop light; has increased the desire to have the same type of flexibility and autonomy within the office workspace.
As we inch closer to having the perfect working environment at home, when in the office being able to tailor that experience down to lux levels and temperature to suit ourselves, on any given day is more challenging. There are elements that we can look at to enhance people's wellbeing and motivation when in the office.
The more choice of alternative work settings that make up a workplace i.e quiet areas/rooms and improved acoustics throughout, the more supported the workforce will feel, thus leading to higher levels of wellbeing and motivation.
However we need to ensure the implementation of these additional types of spaces are well utilised and serve a purpose. For example if there is the implementation of a wellbeing room, then also ensure the culture and the companies community supports and encourages the use of such a room! And it isn’t a token gesture of a poor quality room somewhere in the basement.
For ‘choice’ to succeed there must be a culture of trust, enabling users to utilise spaces without fear of judgement especially in relation to perceived lack of productivity.
3. Why is it important to design for the senses?
We are all individuals. And without sounding too frank, each of us has something going on. This could be from a bad Monday morning thanks to a tough weekend, to neurodiversity, to a sensitivity to lighting levels, or someone that struggles to work in a noisy office (who doesn’t, let’s be honest.)
By considering the impact of each environment on neighbouring users, by having more choice of work settings, these will go someway to being able to offer a better working environment for each of us.
Cohesively zone spaces i.e collaboration, focus, quiet for example, will also help. But people are people, so design with grey areas to allow for flexibility, this ensures that a user’s impact on their colleagues has been taken into consideration.
Also if you think about it, all our senses are constantly stimulated, wherever we are, even when we are sleeping. Nothing has changed to our physiology since our lives on the plains thousands and thousands of years ago, we are still the same “animals”. If we think we can shut ourselves off from what should be our natural state of experiencing life: fresh air, nature sound, circadian light, wood and the sensation of touching natural materials and indeed real food taste, then we are setting ourselves up for failure. Mentally and physically.
4. I’d like to talk a little about your design processes? How do you go about designing a workplace? How much engagement do you encourage from the workforce at all the different levels? Workshops; why is it important?
To build a good, solid, foundation for your design, we look to co-design with the people that are going to work within and engage with such a place..
But it’s not just about hearing what people would like in their newly designed place of work, but to help others understand that others are/will work from here too. Where tailorism can fit it, but also where compromise may be needed culturally.
Running surveys and workshops with a good cross section of staff is a given. Listening is great. But so is ensuring that people understand why, that timelines have been set, along with feedback and goal setting.
Creating an overarching vision for the new workplace is a great thing to do. It helps the moral compass to stay on target when other factors are at play.
By creating user-journeys and role-analysis from the information gathered, we can then start to discuss the types of products, furniture and changes that could be made. And then demonstrate the ratios of such items that will start to populate the office.
By co-designing the workplace, by including the people in the process of co-creation, you help them create a sense of ownership of the future space and futher buy-in to the changes that could be.
5. Some people in the audience may already be familiar with Biophilic Design, but for you, why is nature-inspired design an important one to help support employee wellbeing?
From time immemorial we have been connected to the earth, to the land, to the wind, the rain, the sun, nourishing ourselves from the abundance of fruits and seeds around us, listening to the leaves rustle, watching the birds fly in formation above our heads as they head for different climes, feel the ice cold water in the rivers, or enjoy the grass beneath our feet as we sit and talk around a fire. As a species, humanity NEEDS a connection to nature. The most obvious way is by getting outside and communing directly with nature, a regular dose of nature does wonders for mental and physical health, general wellbeing and so many other aspects of our lives.
But we spend most of our lives inside, and particularly at work. If we are at the office, many workplaces are designed using the economy principle: who are our suppliers, what can we buy bulk and let’s standardise it all so it’s cheap and quick to install.
The thing is business owners are missing a trick.
If we as humans, are surrounded just by white walls, plastics, reflective surfaces, noise, and flickering fluorescent untunable lighting, the cacophony affects us physically, the glaring light affects us physically, the bland walls affect us physically. The result is that this physical effect, changes our emotional state, raises our blood pressure, our cortisol levels, we feel stressed, and it triggers our fight or flight mode. We find it hard to concentrate, be creative and productive and I don’t need to say the impact that then has on a business’ bottom line.
What we aim to do with Biophilic Design, is to create environments where people flourish. From all the extensive research carried out (Biophilic Design is one of the most quantified, qualified and evidenced design principles), we know that introducing that “feeling” of being outside into our built environment, helps us be our best selves.
We know that “10% of employee absences can be attributed to architecture with no connection to nature” [1]. Views of nature in healthcare we know leads to 8.5% shorter stays and a quicker recovery [2].
When we have views of nature, for instance movement of waves, leaves in a breeze, fish swimming in a fish tank, our attention is held, and our cortisol levels come down. Our wellbeing is improved, and we are happier. Viewing nature is literally a pleasurable experience. In contrast, where we can see less visual richness these are processed in the “small forward portion of the visual cortex and trigger far fewer of the mu receptors, triggering less pleasurable mental reactions” [3].
We know that stress is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases as well as mental health disorders. What we seek to achieve with Biophilic Design is to create respite, relief, harmony so our brains are not distracted by sounds, views, light, textures that induce that flight or fight reaction within us that triggers the stress hormone that leads to negative mental health outcomes from psychiatric and stress/anxiety related illness. Studies show that our ability to directly access nature can alleviate feelings of stress, even our heart rate and blood pressure are at healthy levels, which further highlights the case for biophilia in the workplace [4].
[1] Terrapin Bright Green The Economics of Biophilia https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/the-economics-of-biophilia/#the-economic-advantages-of-biophilia-in-sectors-of-society
[2] Ulrich, R. S. “View through a window may influence recovery from surgery” Science, Vol. 224. 1984.
[3] Biederman I, Vessel EA. “Perceptual pleasure and the brain.” American Scientist. 94:249–255. 2006
[4] Grahn, Patrik and Ulrika K. Stigsdotter. “The relation between perceived sensory dimensions of urban green space and stress restoration.” Elsevier Science Ltd., Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning. 264-275. 2010.