Will Aitken, Senior Associate and Project Lead for Morrow + Lorraine

Morrow + Lorraine, have obtained planning permission for the comprehensive refurbishment of 25 Moorgate, situated close to the Bank of England in the City of London. Originally constructed in 2002 to designs by Foggo Associates, this eight-storey, 111,877 sq. ft. layout encompasses office spaces located around a central core, complemented by ground and lower-level retail spaces.

This project coincides with the City of London’s visionary urban strategy, which involves closing off narrow streets to vehicular traffic to create a more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly environment. Notably, Coleman Street, adjacent to 25 Moorgate, has been transformed into a pedestrianized zone at its northern end, encouraging greater active travel through the Square Mile.

In alignment with this urban vision, Morrow + Lorraine have reconfigured the central core of the building to establish a new entrance on Coleman Street. This fundamental alteration provides the benefit of a second route into the building whilst bringing activity to the once-dormant street scene.

Morrow + Lorraine has conceived a new façade at ground and first-floor levels, blending a coloured glazed terracotta rainscreen with external Portland stone elements. This design not only enhances the arrival experience for office occupants but also provides an enriched setting for the street-level retailers, reinforcing the building’s status as a key urban landmark on Moorgate itself.

The top two storeys have been remodelled with a new rooftop pavilion created using a lightweight hybrid structure. It was carefully designed in collaboration with Heyne Tillett Steel with the aim of reducing the amount of strengthening works required to the structure below to reduce the embodied carbon footprint of the refurbishment. Beyond its sustainability benefits, the pavilion and rooftop terrace offer occupants a unique amenity space, affording views of prominent City landmarks, including St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Dedication to sustainability is reflected in the project’s certifications, including WELL ‘Enabled’ with a clear pathway to achieving Platinum status for future tenants. The scheme is on track to attain BREEAM Outstanding 2014 RFO Bespoke certification, a NABERS rating of 4.5*, and achieve an EPC A. At Morrow + Lorraine, we are committed to creating architecture that not only enhances the well-being of its occupants but is also environmentally responsible.

One of the project’s standout features is the extensive urban greening that envelopes both ground level and rooftops, designed by Peter Williams Studio. Ground-level niches within the façade will become verdant, integrated planters, blending with the building’s materiality. On the rooftop, vertical climbing plants adorn the eastern, southern, and western facades, providing both aesthetic appeal as well as a habitat for local biodiversity. Complementing these green spaces, Morrow + Lorraine have specified a diverse planting palette, including densely planted, largely native, pollinator-friendly plants to support local invertebrate populations.

Written by Jean-Jacques Lorraine