The transformation of Henrietta House was inspired by an ambitious vision of what could be possible if the early 90s building was reimagined into a world-class, creative space for CBRE’s workforce, in collaboration with Lazari Investments. 

There were three clear objectives for the design: to evolve the working culture, to break down silos and to encourage people to leave their desks and interact with others. CBRE wanted to reinvigorate the workspace they had occupied for 11 years to create an aspirational HQ with space for collaboration, wellness and client-facing interaction. 

To make room for CBRE’s 2,000 employees, MoreySmith introduced a new 6 storey extension with two light-filled central atriums, built over a former retail loading bay, to creatively refurbish the space without the need for demolition. After four years of construction, the 3,762 sq. m architectural new build has expanded the floor plate of the existing building to 13,517 sq. m. This extra space has enabled the construction of a library, client pitch and event space on the 7th floor created by reclaiming former plant space for quiet and focused work and extends to an outdoor terrace, with unparalleled views of London’s skyline.

Flexible working space across the building gives employees the freedom to choose an environment most suited to their day and a central café and outdoor terraces encourage connectivity between teams. The lower ground floor has been reinvented into a wellbeing area, with professionally run gym facilities. In the basement, a former car park and service plant rooms now holds cycle storage to encourage cycling and prevent car use in London’s city centre. 

Carefully curated art from a diverse range of artists within the building provides inspiration for both the CBRE team and visiting clients, including a custom sculpture by Fernando Casasempere named Murmuration, formed of more than 2000 individual pieces of hand-moulded porcelain. Sustainability was considered from the outset of the project, the building achieved BREAM Excellent and is the largest refurbishment in the UK to achieve Platinum WELL Standard. Throughout the building, 100% LED lighting limits energy use and rooftop Photovoltaic panels provide a green energy source for the building’s power. High-efficiency plant service and internal heat recovery lower emissions further. 

An abundance of responsibly sourced plants were incorporated into the design, to bring in biophilia and to improve air quality. Outdoor terraces have become green havens for employees to feel connected to nature with a living green wall and wild plants to attract birds and bees. Henrietta House’s new design and bespoke features have facilitated a wellbeing-orientated and flexible working culture that has reset the standard of workplaces in a post-pandemic context. The result is a shining example of how design-led refurbishment can successfully create exceptional workspaces, using the best of the old to deliver the new.