Opening this autumn, Bloomberg’s new European headquarters in the heart of the City of London is the first wholly owned, designed and constructed Bloomberg building globally. Conceived in collaboration with Foster + Partners, it reflects founder Mike Bloomberg’s long-held belief that workspaces should foster collaboration, innovation and productivity.
Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder, Bloomberg L.P. and 108th Mayor of New York City says: “Our people are our most important asset. I wanted to create a unique, sustainable building where our 4,000 London employees would come to work every morning inspired to connect, collaborate and innovate. I believe in openness. This building takes that to a new level – there’s nothing like it in the world."
Located between the Bank of England and St Paul’s Cathedral, the new Bloomberg site occupies 3.2 acres and will provide approximately 500,000 square feet of sustainable office space, two new public plazas featuring specially commissioned works of art, a restaurant arcade that will reinstate an ancient Roman travel route, and an anticipated cultural hub that will restore the ancient Roman Temple of Mithras to its original site. Clad in traditional stone and bronze, it is sympathetic to its context and will improve the surrounding public realm.
Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners adds: “This project has been an exemplar of collaboration – made possible by the extraordinary vision and personal involvement of Mike Bloomberg, who has been an inspiration every step of the way. The scale and materiality of the building is respectful to its surroundings, and its design brings life to the civic domain by reviving the ancient Watling Street as a public arcade of restaurants. The deep plan interior spaces are naturally ventilated through a ‘breathing’ façade combined with a top lit atrium edged with a spiralling ramp at the heart of the building that ensures a connected, healthy and productive environment. The design is a highly specific response to Bloomberg’s needs, it is an embodiment of the organisation and its core values, embracing the latest principles of sustainable design, and will be a magnet for global talent to the City of London."
Expansive, open floor plates are connected by a spiral ramp that spans seven floors of the nine-storey building. Wide enough for three people to walk alongside each other, it is designed to connect employees and encourage passing interactions as they travel between floors.
On the sixth floor, a double-height, column-free ‘pantry’ with a view of St Paul’s Cathedral will be the central hub of the building. Illuminated by natural light from the atrium ceiling, it is a dynamic space for impromptu meetings and social interactions where employees and guests can convene over snacks and beverages.
An innovative, bespoke desk design captures Bloomberg’s approach to collaborative working. Desks are arranged in circular pods around a central table, allowing employees to easily swivel round and convene. Each desk also has an adjustable standing feature and an upholstered pedestal that can be pulled out to allow two people to sit side by side and collaborate in front of a screen.
