88 Wood Street
Subscribe now to instantly view this image
Subscribe to the Architects’ Journal (AJ) for instant access to the AJ Buildings Library, an online database of nearly 2,000 exemplar buildings in photographs, plans, elevations and details.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
External night view
Andrew Holt (website) Download Original
A high-tech, modern office tower development in the City of London, bounded by a Sir Christopher Wren-designed Church and two historic churchyards
The 33,000m2 building situated on the corner of Wood Street and London Wall is arranged as three linked blocks of office accommodation that step up from eight-storeys on Wood Street.
The viability of construction of a large office block on a severely restrained site depended on the resolution of several significant structural problems. The office wings are constructed of in-situ post tensioned concrete which contrasts with the lightweight, steel-framed service towers containing toilets, lifts and fully glazed stairs.
The use of colour enhances their impact - air intakes and extracts at street level are also brightly coloured, contrasting with the neutrality of the occupied floors
The building contains many innovative features. Its triple-glazed active façade is formed of single panels, each 3x4m, of highly transparent float glass. The inner faces of the external panes have a low emissivity coating which further reduces internal solar gain, while the cavity between the double glazed units and the third panel is fitted with motorised, integral horizontal blinds with perforated slats. Photocells on the roof monitor external light conditions and adjust the angle of the blinds, thus minimising sun-glare, heat gain and energy consumption.
Data
- Begun: Oct 1995
- Completed: Aug 1999
- Floor area: 33,000m2
- Sector: Office
- Total cost: £50.6M
- Procurement: Design and build
- Address: 88 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7DA, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
- Project architects: Graham Stirk, Marco Goldschmied, Richard Rogers, Stig Larsen, Stuart Forbes
- Client: Daiwa Europe Property
- Structural engineer: Arup
- Quantity surveyor: Gardiner & Theobold
- Planning consultant: Montagu Evans
- Fire consultant: Warrington Fire Research Consulting
- Landscape architect: Edward Hutchinson
- Lighting consultant: Lighting Design Partnership
- Project manager: Kajima uk Engineering
- Fit-out architect: Kajima Design Europe
Suppliers
- Structural steel: Jakem ag
- Diamond white glass: Martin Roberts