The River Building

The River Building is the reimagining of Canon Bridge House, a City of London office block that had long challenged architects and designers. Deep floor plates left the workspace dark, and the structure that carries the building set firm limits on what was possible. Working for Blackstone, S+T approached the refurbishment as the creation of a new building in its own right, rather than a cosmetic update.

The old trading floors were opened up so that far more natural light could reach the workspace. Instead of imposing a standard corporate formula on the structure, S+T chose to work with the building, revealing and celebrating vast steel struts and brick arches that had previously been concealed. A new entrance introduces bespoke metalwork inspired by the constant movement of the Thames, a motif that is repeated inside the reception space.

The result is a raw, unpolished interior that has broadened the building's appeal to technology, media and telecoms occupiers not traditionally seen in the City. The works also exposed new views towards the river and, alongside wider public realm improvements, forged a fresh connection between the building, the street and the Thames. Coupled with a generous roof garden, The River Building delivers a genuinely distinctive place to work. Completed in 2017.

Design by S+T. Photography by Andy Stagg.