One Southwark Bridge
Located just off Southwark Bridge on the lively South Bank, near the iconic Tate Modern, stands One Southwark Bridge—also known as LC03 and formerly the Financial Times Building. Now owned by WPP, it completes the trio of London properties along the River Thames, joining Sea Containers and the neighbouring Rose Court. The building has been restored to its original form, preserving its structural framework, which resulted in a reduction of approximately 60% in embodied carbon, retaining and utilising the existing bones of the building.
WPP
Architect
Squire & Partners / BDG
Contractor
Structure Tone
Quantity Surveyor
Quantem
Project Manager
Hollen
Initially engaged by WPP via Hollen, we collaborated with Eckersley O’Callaghan during the early design phase to address the complexities of the bespoke façade. This informed BDG’s design development from Stage 3 to Stage 4. Later, we were appointed by Structuretone Ltd to deliver the re-purposing of the building. One of our primary focuses was the integration of large feature windows, strategically positioned to frame key views—one angled towards St. Paul’s Cathedral and another towards the entrance of Rose Court. The scheme also introduced an additional floor, an infill section, and improved public realm access along the Thames for pedestrians. Onsite works commenced in early 2023 and were successfully completed in late 2024.
The original lightweight exterior was replaced with a similarly light solution, incorporating solar shading and glare control through perforated fins and a high-performance double-glazing system. Photovoltaic (PV) panels were installed on the new ‘saw tooth’ roof, a design feature that pays homage to the site’s industrial heritage. To achieve the architect’s vision, we utilised a combination of stickwork, Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC), and unitised systems.
A comprehensive blast mitigation façade process was implemented to secure planning approval, involving detailed modelling, sampling, and wind tunnel testing. This rigorous approach ensured compliance with safety and security standards.
The completed project exemplifies WPP and BDG’s commitment to innovative retrofitting, achieving BREEAM Outstanding certification—a rare and prestigious accolade for an existing structure.
