1 Finsbury Avenue

1 Finsbury Avenue is a Grade II listed building constructed in the early 1980s, and designed by Arup Associates (Peter Foggo). As the first building in the later Broadgate development, it was significant in defining the speculative office typology in London. AHMM inherited a much loved and high quality building. The building facade was Grade II listed in 2015 and any new interventions had to be sensitive to the existing form and materials. AHMM’s refurbishment makes a number of interventions including additional roof terraces and connecting the ground floor with the public realm. Shifting the emphasis from single tenancy to mixed-use retail, leisure and flexible co-working office space targeting tech occupiers reinforces British Land’s vision for a vibrant masterplan and public realm. The building has been stripped of its corporate layers to expose an impressive steel frame, which was decorated as found. An honesty of new elements and exposed services created a striking industrial aesthetic. The ethos ‘Raw is More’ repositions the nature of office space within the City. Foggo’s original concept for a public route through 1 Finsbury Avenue connecting Wilson Street and Finsbury Avenue Square has been reestablished. This is an important element in activating the ground floor and connecting this building with the wider Broadgate Campus. In the centre of the Lower Atrium there is a striking installation designed in collaboration with Studio Myerscough, which acts as a beacon of how this architecturally important and flexible office building has once again been reimagined. 1FA has been key to delivering British Land and GIC’s ambition to diversify the tenant mix at Broadgate, both in terms of sector and size. They wanted the building design and the leasing strategy to position the building as a next generation hub for tech and creative businesses and create a catalyst for change at Broadgate. To support this strategy and the wider desire to improve the retail and leisure on the campus, they wanted to open up the ground and experiment with uses, which draw people into the building and create a truly integrated, mixed-use facility. British Land Storey (fit out by Gensler) have occupied the co-working floors to offer occupiers flexibility, both in terms of design and leasing, so that British Land can support them as their needs change. British Land targeted a quick programme for the works. This resulted in overlapping work streams in order to meet the demands of planning, design, construction, marketing and tenant change. Sir Robert McApline were appointed as Construction Manager as part of a 10 year framework of delivery on the campus. 1FA was 85% pre-let to target occupiers and delivered back to the market in 2 years from full vacant possession.