16 Great Marlborough Street

London W1
16 Great Marlborough Street

A landmark workspace, reimagined

16 Great Marlborough Street sits between Soho and Regent Street’s conservation areas, surrounded by historic landmarks like The London Palladium and Liberty. Originally built in the 1990s, the building had endured decades of semi-industrial use and was showing its age.

In 2019, we pre-let the entire building to global drinks company Diageo, who were looking for a flexible, inclusive, and sustainable European HQ for their 900-strong workforce. Their ambition was to create a net zero operational building, requiring a holistic approach to carbon reduction—from construction to long-term performance.

Enhancing the building, minimising carbon

  • Retained and reworked the existing structure, reducing embodied carbon.
  • Expanded floorplatesto create amore flexible, efficient workspace.
  • Blended modern architecture with heritage surroundings, respecting local conservation areas.

 

Achieving net zero operational goals

  • Prioritised material reuseto minimise waste and embodied carbon.
  • Installed high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation systemsto cut energy use.
  • Integrated LED lighting and smart energy management, reducing operational carbon.
  • Sourced sustainable materials, ensuring long-term durability and environmental impact.

 

Designed for people & wellbeing

  • Flexible and inclusive workspace, tailored for Diageo’s evolving needs.
  • 330 cycle spaces and end-of-trip facilities, promoting active travel.
  • Collaboration-first design, creating an adaptable HQ that fosters innovation.

 

The impact

  • Net zero operational carbonachieved through energy-efficient systems.
  • Significantly reduced embodied carbon through reuse and retention.
  • Future-proofed the building, ensuring long-term energy efficiency.
  • National BCO Award Winner 2023 – Best Workplace Fit Out.

 

16 Great Marlborough Street proves that sustainability and high-performance workspaces can go hand in hand. By rethinking carbon, reusing materials, and optimising for net zero, we delivered a world-class HQ designed for the future.

 

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