Bloomberg's European headquarters, London
Bloomberg's European headquarters stands in the City of London, near St Paul's Cathedral. It opened in October 2017, won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2018 and scored 98.5% against the BREEAM sustainability method at design stage, which makes it a widely cited example of sustainable office design.
Key facts
| Address | 3 Queen Victoria Street, City of London, UK |
|---|---|
| Architect | Foster + Partners; structural engineer AKT II |
| Opened | October 2017 |
| Staff | About 4,000 |
| Sustainability | 98.5% BREEAM score at design stage, described as the highest design-stage score for a major office at the time |
| Award | RIBA Stirling Prize 2018 |
| Inside | A 210 m helical bronze ramp; ceiling "petals" that spread light, cool the air and absorb sound |
| Below | The London Mithraeum, a Roman temple, shown close to its original site and open to the public |
Figures as reported in the Wikipedia article on Bloomberg London and by Foster + Partners.
How the design works
- A ramp at the heart. A helical bronze ramp links the floors, so people meet as they move around instead of using lifts alone.
- A ceiling that works. The petal-shaped ceiling panels combine lighting, cooling and sound control in one element.
- Rainwater reuse. Rainwater from the roof is collected to flush the vacuum toilets.
- History kept in place. The Roman temple found on the site was rebuilt in a public gallery beneath the offices.
What a smaller office can borrow
- Make the stairs a meeting place. If you have two floors, a wide, bright stair with a landing to pause on gets people talking.
- Treat the ceiling as a tool. Acoustic ceiling panels or rafts cut noise in open offices. See our layout ideas.
- Use LEDs and sensors. Efficient lighting with motion sensors lowers energy use. See our lighting guide.
Visiting
The offices are private. The London Mithraeum, on the ground floor, is open to the public; check its website for opening times and booking.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Bloomberg building in London?
Foster + Partners designed it, with AKT II as structural engineer.
Why is the Bloomberg building famous?
It won the 2018 RIBA Stirling Prize and scored 98.5% against BREEAM at design stage, a record for a major office at the time.
When did Bloomberg's London headquarters open?
In October 2017.
Can you visit the Bloomberg building?
The offices are private, but the London Mithraeum on the ground floor is open to visitors.
