170 Piccadilly is a workplace strongly rooted in its location and history. Opposite Burlington Arcade, the building offers a considered contrast to the pace of Piccadilly outside, blending restored historic character with contemporary comfort. Inside, spaces feel calm, tactile and adaptable, shaped by crafted details and carefully controlled environments. A hospitality-led club overlooks a planted courtyard garden, creating a social anchor for the building. Throughout, the experience is intentional – a workplace that feels grounded, comfortable and distinctly its own.
- Location
- St James's, London
- Size
- 55,200 sqft
- Client
- GPE
Our ambition was to rediscover the architectural identity of 170 Piccadilly and reposition it as a Fully Managed Workplace for GPE. Originally built in 1905 as gentleman’s chambers, the Grade II Listed building had been dulled by successive fit outs that eroded its clarity. With no scope to extend, the brief focused on unlocking value through heritage-led transformation – restoring proportion, repairing fabric and enriching the quality of space throughout.
The vision was for a building-specific, premium offer rooted in its West End setting. Every intervention needed to respect heritage constraints while elevating experience, comfort and adaptability. With limited opportunity to extend, value was created by refining what already existed – reinstating proportion, improving performance and carving out new shared amenities, including a roof-level garden.
Before and After
Office and Workspaces
Layers of fit out were unpicked to reinstate original volumes, ceiling heights and circulation, opening up and connecting Egyptian and Dudley Houses as a single, legible whole. Former lightwells were carefully infilled, allowing natural light to stream into the belly of the building. Heritage elements uncovered during strip-out – including fragmented cornicing and a wrought-iron lift cage – were carefully restored and celebrated. New architectural insertions echo historic proportions through crafted materials and subtle Egyptianate motifs.
Environmental upgrades were threaded carefully through the listed fabric. Original windows were retained and enhanced with ultra-thin vacuum glazing, all-electric systems were introduced, and services discreetly integrated to improve comfort and performance. Achieving WELL Enabled and BREEAM Excellent, 170 Piccadilly demonstrates how heritage-led retrofit can create a workplace of lasting relevance, quality and character.
Collaboration
Revitalised Basement
