One Millennium Bridge is a deep retrofit of an outdated office building in the Square Mile, and a key component in the wider repositioning of the Thames’ North Bank as a revitalised piece of the city.

One Millennium Bridge is a deep retrofit of an outdated office building in the Square Mile, and a key component in the repositioning of the North Bank as a revitalised part of the city. The scheme will provide high-quality office space, newly activated river frontage, and a publicly accessible rooftop overlooking the river.
The project was ahead of its time at planning, with a retain-first approach keeping 68% of the building’s structure, and a 61% reduction in carbon emissions over baseline regulation requirements. An innovative heat recovery and thermal storage system reduces the amount of rooftop plant required, freeing up space for landscaped terraces. These extend the public realm vertically, allowing pedestrians to access expansive views over the Thames. The roofscape provides an environment that encourages biodiversity, attenuates rainwater, and reduces the urban heat island effect.
A new, high-performing, limestone façade evokes the stone’s historic use across Wren’s London. The deeper reveals incorporate terraces with exceptional views, whilst providing passive solar shading that contributes to the building’s environmental performance. Rationalising the existing building’s form meant a further 58,000 sqft of NIA was provided, without the need for additional levels. A new, folded CLT roof minimises breaches to the St Paul’s Heights Grid, providing improved views of the cathedral from Bankside.
The original building spanned over a four-lane highway, resulting in a stepping slab across levels. This condition was utilised to create a new public route descending through the urban block, providing a much-needed connection between the elevated street at Peter’s Hill and the riverside promenade.

“This project negotiates many contextual and infrastructural issues. It is a building that bridges one of the key arteries into the city of London; modestly addresses the Grade 1 listed St Paul’s Cathedral and St Mary Somerset Church; references the expressive nature of dockside architecture; brings back to life a forgotten stretch of the north bank of the river; provides a beautiful publicly accessible garden on the roof; all the while addressing the changing nature of workspace with a light filled, adaptable and sustainable design. All of this was possible by harvesting, extending and retaining the bones of the original building ⎼ this is the hidden element to the project and one we are extremely proud of as a studio.”
-Stuart Piercy, Founding Director of Piercy&Company