Foster + Partners has secured permission from Westminster City Council to redevelop the offices at 1 St James’s Square, located in the heart of London’s St James’s district.
Under the approved plans, over half of the existing building’s structure will be retained while its façade is completely re-imagined. The scheme will add two new storeys and incorporate terraces and green outdoor spaces.
The upgraded building is set to meet rigorous sustainability standards – targeting certification levels of BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5.5*, and WELL Platinum.
Clad in Portland stone to harmonise with the surrounding Georgian architecture, the new façade will feature chamfered windows and a “breathable” design. Natural ventilation will be possible for roughly 40 % of the year, and a smart control system is expected to reduce cooling energy use by around 70 %. Inside, the redeveloped building will offer approximately 11,000 m2 of premium office space across ten flexible floors, along with landscaped terraces, a green roof, and panoramic city views. It will run on an all-electric system, using air-source heat pumps, mixed-mode ventilation and a high-performance façade to minimize operational energy.
Foster + Partners describes the project as a way to prevent the building from becoming a “stranded asset,” highlighting how reusing the existing structure reduces embodied carbon and gives the building a new lease of life.
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