Gensler completes transformation of Helical and Orion’s 100 New Bridge Street

Global architecture and design firm Gensler has completed the repositioning of 100 New Bridge Street, a landmark City of London office building.

Designed for Helical, the Central London real estate developer, and a vehicle managed by Orion Capital Partners, 100 New Bridge Street is located between St. Paul’s and Blackfriars. The scheme reimagines the existing building as a contemporary workplace that supports evolving ways of working while significantly reducing the environmental impact of demolition and new construction.

By retaining and upgrading much of the original structure built more than two decades ago, the project demonstrates how existing buildings can be reimagined as high-performance workplaces that meet the evolving needs of occupiers and the wider city.

Gensler’s design strategy focused on opening up the building and reconnecting it with its surroundings, creating a more transparent, welcoming and engaging presence at street level.

The completed building provides 195,000 sq ft of space following the addition of two floors, a new, more visually impressive façade delivering improved energy performance and increased natural light, alongside the provision of one of the City of London’s largest office terraces at 7,450 sq ft,  offering magnificent views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and across Central London. At ground level, the surrounding public realm has been enhanced to improve connectivity and pedestrian experience.

The design balances the retention of the existing structure with a comprehensive upgrade of the building’s systems and workplace environments. Interior spaces have been reconfigured to create flexible floorplates capable of supporting a wide range of tenant requirements, from collaborative areas to focused workspaces.

Sustainability is embedded in every aspect of the project; with 90% of the structure retained, and materials re-used, re-purposed and donated, the comprehensive redevelopment’s embodied carbon is tracking 61.4% below the GLA benchmark for offices. The all-electric building scheme has delivered high environmental and well-being standards, including BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5* and WELL Platinum.

Valeria Segovia, Principal and Design Director at Gensler, said:

“100 New Bridge Street shows how adaptive reuse can shape the future of London’s workplaces. By retaining and upgrading the existing structure, we’ve reduced embodied carbon while creating a modern, flexible environment that supports wellbeing, sustainability and long-term adaptability.”

Matthew Bonning-Snook, Chief Executive Officer of Helical, commented: 

“This is a significant milestone for our best-in-class 100 New Bridge Street development, where we have reimagined the building as a high-quality, future-focused workplace that demonstrates the potential of existing assets to meet modern occupier expectations while supporting the City’s ambitions around sustainability and carbon reduction.”

The redevelopment of 100 New Bridge Street reflects a broader shift in London’s commercial property market toward deep retrofit strategies, alongside Gensler’s commitment to prioritising sustainability and workplace quality. Design interventions to improve light, connectivity and amenity have repositioned the building as a more flexible and adaptable workplace in the City.

It builds on a series of retrofit-led, sustainable projects delivered by Gensler across the capital, including The Acre in Covent Garden and 10 Gresham Street in the heart of the City of London.