12 New Fetter Lane is an innovative new 15-storey office building. Occupying a triangular site on the western edge of the City of London, its inventive stepped and rotating form responds to the Chancery Lane Conservation Area to the west and the higher-rise commercial developments of New Street Square to the east.

Designed to engage with its dramatic townscape context, the building forms a transitional element in the cityscape, while also improving the setting of Fetter Lane and Plough Place, creating a strong sense of place and identity. The external envelope, composed almost entirely of glass, is expressed as a multi-faceted and reticulated surface. The diamond-like facades generate multiple complex reflections, capturing light and constantly changing in both pattern and appearance throughout the day.

The tall single-storey ground floor level includes the main building entrance, retail space and a service bay; and forms the base for 12 floors of office accommodation above. This prime quality office space benefits from high levels of natural light, excellent external awareness, and breath-taking views across London. The top of the building, above the final floor of offices, is articulated with a double-stacked plant, taking the total building height to 59 metres above New Fetter Lane.

Sustainability was a principal design consideration of the project, and the building achieves a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.

The project completed in 2015, and has been leased by a single occupier, the international law firm Bird and Bird. The interior fit out, which was designed by MCM, completed in summer 2016.

Awards

Shortlisted:

BCO Commercial Workplace Project of the Year Finalist London
Region 2017