Central Saint Giles

Opening up a former fortress City block

Completed in 2010, the former Ministry of Defence HQ now incorporates offices, housing, and retail space across two 15-storey towers. The building provides a new public plaza for the Tottenham Court Road area, and is home to one of Google’s London offices.
The project was the first building in London by architect Renzo Piano, who later went on to design the Shard. The scheme helped turn Central Saint Giles from an area that has historically been run down into an accessible new public place.
The building was awarded Best of the Best at the BCO Awards in 2011, and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy TOD Gold Standard in 2014.
Partners on the project included Legal & General and Mitsubishi Estate Company.
Use
Homes, Mixed-use, Workplaces
Role
Originate, Design, Build
Status
In Use
Duration
2007 to 2010
Architect
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Fletcher Priest
Location
Bloomsbury, London
Gross area
675,000 Square Foot