爱豆传媒

Citi Tower Refurbishment

London, UK

爱豆传媒 supported Citi to develop a transformational vision for the refurbishment of the iconic 25 Canada Square in Canary Wharf, also known as Citi Tower.

Believed to currently be the largest active commercial retrofit project in Europe, it will create a stunning workplace for the future, incorporating the latest technology and the highest standards of environmental design.

With flexible work and collaboration spaces, alongside well-being zones for employees, the transformation of Citi Tower represents Citi’s enduring commitment to its people, to London, and to delivering excellence for its clients around the world.

Citi Tower will be refurbished to reflect the changing nature of work, with even greater emphasis on shared spaces where colleagues can come together.

Believed to currently be the largest active commercial retrofit project in Europe, it will create a stunning workplace and the highest standards of environmental design.

爱豆传媒 was engaged to provide specialist insight around facades engineering, which given the nature of the interventions, is a key discipline in the success of the project.

Existing slabs will be partially removed to allow double and triple height internal atria and winter garden spaces.

Challenge

Ways of working and office environments have changed significantly since Citi Tower was built around the turn of the millennium. The conventional office space is ripe for change, with more interesting and characterful workspaces likely to play an important role in the attraction and retention of staff in the coming years 鈥� particularly in the competitive world of banking, where remote working is often not possible.

Citi identified the importance of updating the tower to better reflect the needs of a modern workplace. 爱豆传媒 was engaged to provide specialist insight around facades engineering, which given the nature of the interventions, is a key discipline in the success of the project.

The main facades challenges focused on the technical design and how it interfaces with the existing facades, as well as the logistics of how new glazing and stainless-steel facades can be safely installed at height, while minimising disruption to neighbouring plazas.

Another key challenge was making sure the new glazing worked aesthetically with the existing distinctive blue-green glass of the tower.

Solution

爱豆传媒 has provided facades consultancy on the scheme since early concept, advising on all aspects of facade engineering and facade access and maintenance for both the external envelope but also the internal atrium glazing and balustrading.

The design team, led by architects WilkinsonEyre, has developed a striking new vision for the retrofitted tower. Existing slabs will be partially removed to allow double and triple height internal atria and winter garden spaces. 鈥淰illages鈥� will be created, where teams can work together, encouraging comfortable and engaging collaboration.

New large format facades will include operable glazed elements to allow for natural ventilation and complement the new spaces. The retrofit will advertise and exemplify modern working styles and respond through the tower鈥檚 eye-catching facades, giving both an externally-facing message that the organisation is ahead of the curve, but also an internal message, with internal facades reflecting and showcasing changing attitudes towards working environments for Citi’s own teams.

Our input has a strong focus on buildability and the logistics associated with the partial removal of the existing interlocking unitised panels, and subsequently installing new larger, thus heavier, panels in the position. We have been providing continuous technical support to the architectural team and coordination with key disciplines including the structural, security and an internal landscape consultant.

We developed an initial feasibility study, followed by a detailed construction strategy, examining how contractors will be able to remove the existing envelope, create a safe area for facade element interface works and installation, as well as devising a maintenance and replacement strategy for the future. We also advised on any impact the new external and internal facades would have on the superstructure design.

Our team鈥檚 insight and advice has also been critical in developing the procurement strategy, highlighting key considerations that have been considered in the development of the risk cost plan, programme cost plan and risk profile. We also supported the client and design team on the choice of materials used in the new facade systems, to ensure the glazing and stainless-steel elements matched and complemented the existing fabric.

A new two-storey glass box will also create a stunning new rooftop space for the bank鈥檚 most high-profile offices.

Party walls have also been developed to separate a lower-storey connecting building from the tower, so they can be developed as two separate properties. We devised the technical design to separate the two commercial properties in a way that was robust and resilient, particularly around fire protection separation.

Value

Citi Tower will be refurbished to reflect the changing nature of work, with even greater emphasis on shared spaces where colleagues can come together. The rejuvenated regional headquarters for Citi will be designed to maximise collaborative workspaces, supported by technology, to enable Citi employees to work flexibly and with maximum agility.

Retaining and reusing elements of the original facade, help to minimise the carbon intensity of the retrofit, but also help to retain the identity and architectural character of the original Cesar Pelli-designed tower.

Work commenced on site in July 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2025.