Central Saint Giles
Where a former fortress opens new doors
The first London building designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, our redevelopment of Central Saint Giles reimagined the former MoD HQ into an exciting, accessible 700,000 sq ft destination filled with Google-approved workspaces, modern homes, restaurants, and a new piazza. The striking, interconnected buildings – and the public spaces that surround them – are a transformative and colourful addition to the Tottenham Court Road neighbourhood.
Where we started
Central Saint Giles is part of a complex urban patchwork of architecture and history. In what was previously an overlooked and underloved corner of central London - as well as the home of the Ministry of Defence – we set out to rebalance the place’s purpose by transforming a 1950s single-use office building into a genuinely mixed-use and sustainable development. The result combines 400,000 sq ft of high-spec workspaces, together with retail, restaurants, homes and public spaces — all thoughtfully integrated within the local neighbourhood.
What we did
A pioneering project
Completed in 2010, Central Saint Giles was the first building in London created by architect Renzo Piano, who later went on to design the Shard. Inside and around the brightly coloured buildings that make up Central Saint Giles, life happens. Our goal was to introduce a richer range of activities into the area, with retail spaces, as well as two residential towers that prioritise safety and community — offering 56 private apartments and 53 affordable housing units. The entire destination is managed and controlled through a holistic urban design approach reflected in the user-friendly layout of retail units, public spaces and pedestrian routes.
Letting the outside in
The public realm at Central Saint Giles includes a central piazza and a series of open spaces that connect the various components of the development to the streets beyond. The site that was once a lonely island is now stitched into the wider urban environment. When it comes to the fabric of the buildings, deep recesses have been carved into the architecture to introduce plenty of natural light and to help occupiers and residents to feel connected to their city.
What makes
this place great
As well as attracting mega brands such as Google and physically revitalising the Tottenham Court Road neighbourhood, the success of Central Saint Giles is measured by the many people who live, work and hang out here. 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.
