Cannon Green, London EC4

Cannon Green is a largescale, mixed use office building executed for client Ocubis, located on Bush Lane in the City of London. The project saw the transformation of what was formerly Princess House, a 1960s rent slab office, into a new workplace concept in the heart of the square mile.

Spanning 10,700m2, the Cannon Green project employed a range of specialist design teams for each of the scheme’s component areas. JRA was responsible for the dramatically remodelled reception situated in a bespoke double height glazed podium, sweeping around the base of the main tower. This houses a contemporary welcome area, original artwork and a number of relaxed lounge spaces centred around the grand concrete staircase, which was cast in situ. In addition, the space houses extensive amenities for occupiers and the public. The changes offer an impressive approach whilst adding scale to the building reception. Above this, Cannon Green offers 7,500m2 of Grade A office space in a re-clad bronze façade with new, more efficient glazing and a shared workspace with a private café and bar.

Repainting the tower facades in bronze and introducing simplified, high efficiency full height glazing offers a renewed, contemporary presence for the building. Each tower has been extended by two storeys.

Cannon Green’s new entrance pavilion has transformed the building. The distinctive entrance hall acts as a beacon towards the lively semi-public space and the full height glass increases permeability to create a conversation between inside and outside, as well as the surrounding streets.

The double height podium is set at an angle to make full use of the island site and unify the towers above. The original building was stripped back at ground level to reveal its original structural frame and structural elements, including large steel beams and bare concrete, creating a strong semi-industrial aesthetic in keeping with current retrofit trends.

A grand cast concrete stair sweeps up alongside the curved glass podium enclosure, visible from the street. Featuring sculptural art and transitory spaces for informal meetings, the visually weightless stair leads to the new offices.

JRA’s retrofit has transformed the existing building into a new workplace concept, which realises Ocubis’s aspirations of ‘Shoreditch meets the City’ and takes advantage of its location in the heart of the City of London, between the rapidly developing area around Cannon Street Station and Upper Thames Street.

Workspaces with good natural light extend through floors at levels one to 11, offering an occupancy of 1:8m2 across the 7,500m2 office space. Characterised by raw finishes, contemporary industrial styling, and vintage furnishing, Cannon Green’s offices provide a co-working typology, hosted by City Pavilion. Private rooms, hot desks and breakout areas feature throughout.

The converted car park ramp and extensive storage areas in the basements now house a dedicated cycle entrance to the Bike Club, which features extensive storage, changing facilities, showers, and lockers to support sustainable travel. ‘Spanners’, a cycle repair workshop, has opened at ground floor level. Wellbeing is also promoted through the presence of fitness spaces at Gymbox, a high end gym open to the wider community. The new pavilion is occupied by The Listing, a Drake and Morgan concept restaurant and bar with terrace, adding an additional amenity for occupiers and the public alike. The business lounge at first floor provides a café for networking and informal meetings and JRA added terraces accessed directly from the office floors to provide an occupier amenity that takes advantage of City-wide views.

The scheme achieved a BREEAM Very Good rating due to a number of environmental measures including the upgraded glazing, cyclist facilities and roof terrace with planting.