78 St James's Street

Squire & Partners completed the sensitive refurbishment and extension of 78 St James’s Street for BentallGreenOak in 2022.

The existing building comprises two elements: a Grade II* listed Victorian structure on St James’s Street built in the 1840s, and a rear building added to the west of the site as part of a redevelopment to provide modern workspace accommodation for a single tenant which was undertaken by Squire & Partners in 2001.

Twenty years after this initial intervention, a building restructure has enhanced connectivity between the heritage element and the west wing extension, enabling the client to multi-let the development in line with current market demand. The reception has been doubled in frontage, and a rooftop pavilion and garden have replaced inefficient plant space. Internally, finishes have been meticulously considered. Generous, state-of-the-art amenities have been sensitively incorporated into Grade II* listed areas, offering tenants an exclusive experience and reinstating the remarkable spaces the building was originally designed to offer.

Eight floors of flexible, state-of-the-art workspace located in the newer west wing have been refurbished and finished to CAT A standard to create large, optimised floorplates which are configurable according to occupier needs. On the sixth floor, former plant areas have been consolidated and rationalised to enable the creation of a 3,500 sq ft rooftop pavilion and planted terrace. Furniture and integrated seating create a multi-use space suitable for meetings, socialising and events. Internally, the new pavilion features banquette seating and a bespoke bar, providing an additional work environment away from the desk. 

80% of the workspace was pre-let or let within 6 months of practical completion at rents exceeding pre-COVID expectations and the project has received a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent.’ Carbon emissions have been minimised by reusing the existing building fabric and retaining 80% of its structure.