HDR’s specialist teams will transform Citi’s headquarters in Canary Wharf into a multi-destination vertical village, as part of a major upgrade. The aim is to promote an environment of inclusivity, health and well-being while making the premises more carbon efficient.
To modernise the building, originally completed in 2001, and improve energy efficiency, HDR will deliver Building Engineering Services, structural design, IT infrastructure design and lifts, as well as completing sustainability energy assessments and compliance studies.
The redevelopment of Citi’s over twenty-year-old building aims to create a dynamic workplace for employees, with features such as multi-floor winter gardens and an elevated multi-level high street to create a modern, flexible energy efficient workplace.
The project will see the 42-storey building’s full MEP Services replaced with a focus on maximising the reuse potential of materials and equipment to reduce the embodied carbon of the project. The MEP Strategy aims to increase the resilience of the building, expand occupancy levels and increase ventilation rates in order to achieve credits towards gaining WELL certification. Improvements in energy efficiency are targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
The structural design presents an extreme challenge with the need to cut out several staircases and apertures between floors as well as provide space for the perimeter winter gardens in the common areas, which are double and triple height.
The new lift scheme designed in collaboration with the Vertical Transportation Studio will increase the number of lift cars from around 45 to 55 with the addition of 6 new escalators. The new Vertical Transportation Design promotes permeability of the building as this means employees will be able to move much more freely around their offices, between the various villages, high street, and plaza levels.
In terms of IT services, HDR’s IT team is working closely with the Citi Technology team to provide new data infrastructure as part of the early works, which is currently under construction.
Richard Morgan, director with HDR comments, “This project is highly ambitious and is the first major tower upgrade of the Canary Wharf Estate. This building will be a leading example of the benefits that can be achieved through comprehensive refurbishment.”
Main construction works are due to start in February 2023 with completion currently scheduled for late 2025.