Lord Foster and Michael R. Bloomberg Host Topping Out Ceremony for Bloomberg’s New European Headquarters in the City of London

Originally posted on Bloomberg.com 

Lord Foster and Michael R. Bloomberg hosted the topping out ceremony of Bloomberg’s new European headquarters in the City of London today, located between the Bank of England and St Paul’s Cathedral. In its form, massing and materials, the new building is sympathetic to its surrounding context and is uniquely of its place and time – a natural extension of the City that will endure and improve the surrounding public realm.

The new building comprises two triangular volumes, bisected at ground level by an arcade and connected above by link bridges, reinstating Watling Street – an ancient Roman route that runs across the site. The height complements neighbouring structures and protects views of St Paul’s Cathedral, and the public spaces on the ground level include water as a homage to the Roman Walbrook River that once flowed through the site.

The cores have been moved to the perimeter of the building – facilitating the creation of the large-scale, open floor plates, which are especially suited to contemporary office layouts. The building targets a BREEAM Outstanding rating, with naturally shaded facades and natural ventilation throughout the interior spaces. It also features technologically advanced drainage and rainwater collection systems that enable net water usage to be zero.

Lord Foster, Chairman and Founder of Foster + Partners:

“This extraordinarily collaborative effort was made possible by Michael Bloomberg, who not only commissioned the building but has personally been involved at every step of the design. From the very first meeting he expressed his desire to make the building relate sympathetically to its neighbours in every way. This is reflected in a building which is much lower than its allowed height – is penetrated by a public arcade, most of the ground floor brings life to the civic domain, and is faced in traditional stone and bronze. Every design decision, from materials carefully chosen to age and mellow over time, to the revival of Watling Street – the ancient Roman route that cuts across the site – reflects the exacting standards and total commitment of everyone involved. The result is a building that is uniquely of its place and time, an exemplar of sustainable design, and a workplace that will attract the best and the brightest global talent to the City of London.”

Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder, Bloomberg L.P. and 108th Mayor of New York City:

“With this building we are creating a lasting legacy for Bloomberg and for the City of London. It’s a building that our business needs and that our people deserve and will stand as a symbol of our past successes and our future ambitions. London is the second home for Bloomberg and a centre of our global network. We’re committed to the city and to helping build a strong future here. This building will help keep us growing in London, and will help London keep growing as a thriving financial, technology and media hub.”
 

For more information, see www.bloomberg.com/company/london
For more information, visit www.fosterandpartners.com

Press Contacts:

Katy Harris, Foster + Partners, +44 (0)20 7738 0455, press@fosterandpartners.com
Catrin Thomas, Bloomberg L.P., +44(0)20 3525 0673, cthomas106@bloomberg.net

About Bloomberg
Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company’s strength – delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately – is at the core of the Bloomberg Professional service, which provides real time financial information to more than 325,000 subscribers globally. For more information, visit www.bloomberg.com/company.

About Foster + Partners
Foster + Partners, led by Norman Foster, is an international studio for architecture, engineering, industrial and interior design. The practice has pioneered a sustainable approach to architecture through a wide range of work and has received over 680 awards for excellence and won over 120 competitions since its inception in 1967.