40 Chancery Lane
Workplace
A finely detailed office and retail development that reinterprets the character of Chancery Lane’s historic fabric with quiet precision.
Project Details
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London
Location
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Derwent London
Client
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13,156 sq m
Area
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£36.5m
Value
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2015
Completion
For developer Derwent London, this project creates new office and retail space that draws on the character of its historic surroundings. Located within the Chancery Lane Conservation Area, the design replaces a group of 1950s and 60s buildings with a series of linked blocks that respond to the grain and scale of the streets they face. Between them, a landscaped courtyard restores the traditional pattern of alleys and courts, providing a calm retreat at the heart of the site.
An existing 19th-century building at 20-21 Took’s Court is carefully integrated, separated from the new structure by a slender glazed atrium. The façades are clad in finely modelled travertine marble, chosen for its affinity with nearby Portland stone, giving the composition a sense of permanence and refinement.
Inside, the Category A offices are designed for flexibility and comfort, with exposed thermal mass, opening windows and passive chilled ceilings reducing energy use. The result is a contemporary workspace that balances performance with a strong civic presence.
The building was completed and fully pre-let to Publicis Groupe in 2013, contributing to the continuing renewal of Chancery Lane’s architectural fabric.
“40 is a rather special building. Aesthetically, it has a strong and handsome look and it holds the corner boldly, making it the most prominent and pleasing building on Chancery Lane.”
Simon Silver
Director, Derwent London
Awards
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RIBA Award
RIBA London Award 2017
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RIBA Award
RIBA National Award 2017
Credits
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Derwent London
Client
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AKT II
Structural Engineer
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Arup
Services Engineer
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Davis Langdon
Quantity Surveyor
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J&L Gibbons
Landscape Architect
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'Travertine Frieze' by Susanna Heron
Public art
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Morgan Sindall
Contractor