Unilever London Headquarters

100 Victoria Embankment

In transforming this historic structure, KPF put the working practices of Unilever employees at the heart of the design process.

When Unilever made 100 Victoria Embankment its London headquarters in the 1930s, it was hailed as the “wonder building of modern commerce.” The new headquarters is a highly flexible modern workplace, able to accommodate every kind of working behaviour in a commercially efficient and environmentally sustainable way.

KPF’s design preserves and restores the exterior of the historic Grade II listed structure while completely renovating, reconfiguring, and modernizing the interior. A landmark for sustainability, the design was awarded a BREEAM Excellent score for its energy efficiency and conservation and reuse of materials.

Offices are provided in the restored and extended Crescent and Watergate wings. A new central atrium brings natural air and light into the center of the building, and is navigated via a dramatic sequence of suspended bridges and platforms that create informal meeting spaces. The central plant is relocated to make way for a roof garden that offers alternative work and recreation spaces. The original main entrance on the Embankment is reopened, with adjustments for universal accessibility and improvements to infrastructure, parking, and vehicular drop-off.

Location

London, UK

Client

Unilever PLC

Type

Headquarters

Size

36,500 m2 / 392,400 ft2

Awards

Honor Award for Architecture (AIA National Chapter 2008), The Building Type Awards: Sustainable Design Honor Award (AIA New York 2008), Regional Award: London – Refurbished/Recycled (BCO 2008), Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology (CIAT 2008), Award for Outstanding Excellence in the Renewal of Buildings and Conservation (City Heritage Society 2008), UK: Best Commercial Redevelopment (International Property Awards 2009), Award: Refurbished Office Buildings (MIPIM 2008), Award for Excellence (RIBA 2008), Award for Architectural Excellence – London (RIBA 2009), Design Award-Shortlisted- (Structural Steel 2008), Green Good Design (The Chicago Athenaeum 2008), International Architecture Award (The Chicago Athenaeum 2008), Award for Excellence: Europe – Rework (Urban Land Institute 2008)

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Project Type:Adaptive Reuse
Project Location:Europe