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NEWS WORKPLACE JRA ‘repositions’ 20 Gresham Street
Photos © Jack Hobhouse
John Robertson Architects (JRA) has completed the repositioning of 20 Gresham Street, a “key offi ce asset” in the City of London, directly adjacent to the Guildhall complex. The refurbishment has “signifi cantly increased the offi ce’s amenity provision, whilst bringing the building to contemporary leasing requirements.” said the practice
Originally delivered by KPF in 2008, JRA has delivered an extensive upgrade of two offi ce levels and repositioned the asset’s entrance hall and basement facilities. “The standout feature is the reimagining of the existing double-height ground fl oor entrance hall, which was dominated by a full-height sculptured travertine stone wall with full-height glazing along Gresham Street. Though impressive in scale, the space was previously echoey and unwelcoming, with its vast proportions and hard surfaces creating an austere atmosphere for users.” JRA set out to “sensitively reposition the building as a best-in-class offi ce environment, transforming the arrival experience while respecting the strength of the existing architecture through curated interventions and dynamic artworks.” Central to this approach was the decision to embrace, rather than replace, the defi ning travertine wall. Its geological forms “informed a wider design narrative inspired by riverbeds and organic erosion patterns.” The decision to refurbish instead of overhaul also signifi cantly reduces embodied carbon and avoids demolition waste, extending the life cycle of the existing building while aligning it
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with contemporary environmental and workplace standards.
One of the immediate key challenges of the space was the poor acoustics: sound reverberated around the hard- surfaced entrance hall. In response, JRA introduced an acoustic fabric panel ceiling system with integrated metal service channels, establishing a more welcoming, “hospitality-inspired ambience that now invites visitors to gather and use the space.” This intervention also enabled a new lighting strategy, developed in collaboration with specialist consultants, Equation. A standout feature is the addition of four travertine benches designed by renowned British artist David Worthington. These offer both a thoughtful artistic intervention and a highly functional piece of furniture, transforming the entrance into a gallery-like environment. Crafted from travertine sourced and cut from a single block at a quarry in Tuscany, the largest of the benches, measures up to 5 metres in length and weighs as much as 2.5 tonnes. “Informed by JRA’s original riverbed concept and the language of natural formations, the ‘pebble-like’ benches create an informal setting for spontaneous meetings, moments of pause and conversation.”
Providing visual interest at a low level, the benches are complemented by planted trees that contribute to biophilic wellbeing benefi ts, while reinforcing a connection to nature within an urban setting. Design interventions by JRA also include bespoke furniture and a reception desk
made from the same Tuscan travertine as the sculptural benches. JRA also collaborated with artistic studio Acrylicize to create ‘Cascade’, a unifying hanging mobile of 188 pebbles that reference the concave travertine alcoves and the natural geometries of fossils and riverbed stones The new basement end-of-trip facilities, including enhanced bicycle storage, maintenance areas, and shower and changing rooms which now benefi t from access from the entrance hall with the incorporation of a new staircase. These support sustainable commuting and hybrid working patterns, and active lifestyles. The upgrade of 5,852m2 of offi ce accommodation implements targeted interventions with maximum spatial impact. JRA’s design delivers offi ce Levels 4 and 5 to CAT A standards, incorporating raised fl ooring, raft ceilings, upgraded M&E services, and signifi cantly improved WC facilities. Offi ce fl oorplates incorporate a fl exible design to accommodate cellular offi ces, smaller meeting rooms, and zoning, allowing them to offer split tenancies. This approach allows future tenants CAT B layout fl exibility, without the need for major alterations to the base build, reducing waste and supporting a sustainable, future- proof approach. The project “demonstrates how intelligent design and the integration of thoughtful architectural and artistic interventions can elevate a workplace setting to best-in-class contemporary standards while extending the lifespan of a prominent city building.”
ADF APRIL/MAY 2026
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