BuckleyGrayYeoman carves out Square Mile pedestrian route

BuckleyGrayYeoman has won planning for the revamp of a Square Mile office block that will also carve out a new pedestrian route between two busy City streets.

The practice has won approval for the extensive remodelling of 77 Coleman Street into a 7,600 sq m office-led development for client Kajima Properties.

It creates a new public thoroughfare, Nun Court, which will connect Coleman Street and Moorgate, while the building’s ground floor will incorporate retail and leisure uses.

A two-storey roof extension adds additional office space, stepped back from the existing facade line below.

The practice said the retained structure of the existing building dictated the design of its façade, with the Moorgate façade clad in light stone and the Coleman Street elevation in brick. The project is situated in the Bank Conservation Area.

BuckleyGrayYeoman won the project through an invited architectural competition, beating John Robertson Architects & ORMS. The building is expected to be complete in 2019.

Paul White, director at BuckleyGrayYeoman, said: “The extension of Nun Court is a unique opportunity to make positive contribution to the public realm in this part of the city, which will soon benefit from the arrival of Crossrail, creating a valuable pedestrian route by extending an historic city court.”