Aukett Swanke architects complete landmark office re-development Verde SW1, located in the heart of Victoria, London.

Located within 150 meters of a new entrance to Victoria Station, one of London’s busiest transportation hubs, Verde SW1 features 282,000 sqft of grade ‘A’ office space across ten floors and six expansive roof gardens totalling more than 20,000 sqft.

The six roof gardens create a “park in the sky” offering unique far reaching views across London, overlooking St James Park and Buckingham Palace. Each terrace ranges in size from 300sqm to 600sqm and is enclosed by a balustrade set back from the front edge of the terrace to allow for an extensive green roof system with over 40 different plant species.

The facades are designed with deep horizontal and vertical recesses to form a series of flush glass bay windows that create scale through massing, rhythm and articulation. Facing Bressenden Place in the southeast corner, integrated vertical fins with LED lighting provide a dramatic focal point to the approach to the building from the south.

The building features a dramatic triple-height reception with a through connection which links Bressenden Place and Cathedral Walk. The reception is clad floor-to-ceiling in Larstrand marble and feature walls are enhanced with triangulated incisions to form a geometric relief pattern. The ground floor also accommodates retail use, with Pret A Manger and Waitrose already open, generating a genuine mixed-use development in the heart of Victoria.

A nine-storey glazed atrium brings natural daylight into the heart of the building’s floorplate and is crowned by a dramatic glazed roof structure. The roof steps with the cascading roof garden terraces, offering the occupants a visual connection to the green spaces above.

A unique element of the building allows cyclists to enter the building via a bespoke cycle ramp, which leads directly into the basement with 440 bike spaces, showers and a gym. This signals the underlying approach to the building’s design which promotes sustainability, health and wellbeing.

From the basement to the rooftop, every detail has been considered to create a modern, state of the art office for businesses and employees. Verde SW1 has been designed to the highest environmental and sustainable standards, with a target to achieve BREEAM “Excellent” rating. Sustainability has been a major focus, with 80% of existing structure retained
and over 11,600 tonnes of carbon saved. This is equivalent to an average car travelling 16 million miles, or 650 times around the equator.

Tenants will be able to track their own energy consumption with on-site energy and carbon footprint monitoring and reporting.

Luke Schuberth, Managing Director of Aukett Swanke, said: “Our design for Verde SW1 provides an opportunity for a true transformation in the area. The new massing and façade will give the building a striking and modern identity while the creation of numerous landscaped roof gardens will serve as an oasis with far reaching views over London." 

Dan Nicholson, Managing Director of Tishman Speyer UK, said: “We are delighted to have completed this development which offers a truly modern workplace for London. With projects like Verde SW1, Victoria is being transformed into one of the best places to do business in London.”

Verde, SW1 forms part of the major regeneration Victoria is currently undergoing and is the latest building by Aukett Swanke to complete in this area. The practice refurbished the much loved 70s icon 123 Victoria Street and also completed 62 Buckingham Gate.