John Robertson Architects has completed the refurbishment of 20 Gresham Street in the City of London, extending the lifespan of the KPF-designed 2008 office building. The upgrade targets two office levels, basement facilities, and the entrance hall, where a double-height travertine wall has been relit to showcase its materiality. The project focuses on high-impact interventions that shift the lobby from echoey and unwelcoming to gallery-like and tactile.
The most prominent feature is the full-height sculpted travertine wall, now visible through full-height glazing from Gresham Street. A new lighting strategy by Equation, especially within the recessed cove, celebrates the stoneโs texture. Acoustic fabric panel ceilings with integrated metal service channels improve sound performance. Four curved travertine benches up to 5m long, designed by David Worthington and cut from single blocks at SITI Travertino Toscano in Tuscany, anchor the space. JRA also designed a matching travertine reception desk and collaborated with Acrylicize on โCascadeโ, a hanging mobile of 188 pebbles. โJRAโs design aspires to create a space more akin to a gallery than a traditional reception area,โ said Andy Thomas, project director. Tenants are encouraged to dwell and engage with high-quality artwork in an inviting setting. Large living trees add scale and softness, reinforcing the connection to the natural environment. For commercial interiors, the scheme signals a post-pandemic shift: lobbies as experiential, brand-defining assets that aid tenant retention and leasing in the Cityโs competitive office market.
JRA refurbished 5,852mยฒ across Levels 4 and 5 to Cat A standards, with raised flooring, raft ceilings, upgraded M&E services, and improved WCs. The flexible floorplates support cellular offices, meeting rooms, and split tenancies. New basement end-of-trip facilities include enhanced bicycle storage, maintenance areas, showers, changing rooms, and a new staircase to the entrance hall. For developers and asset managers, these upgrades align with tenant ESG demands and active-commute infrastructure in central London.
Rather than demolish and rebuild, the project targets strategic architectural adaptation of the existing interior. The sculptural benches, mobile, and travertine desk create a lasting connection between the natural environment and the base building, said artist David Worthington. With completion in February 2026 after a year on site, 20 Gresham Street shows how material integrity and acoustic comfort can reposition ageing City assets. View more on John Robertson Architects.
Image Courtesy: Architect’s Journal
