In central London, England, Perkins&Will has designed a landmark smart, sustainable head office building for Sidara, a global collaborative of specialist firms providing services in architecture, engineering, sustainability consulting, digital strategy, and energy systems. 150 Holborn replaces an old 1980s office block and provides a shared company headquarters for Sidara’s London-based brands, including Dar, Perkins&Will, Portland Design, Currie & Brown, Introba, Maffeis Engineering, and Penspen. Described as a “living lab”, 150 Holborn harnesses intelligent building technology to self-optimise and provide real-life data that will inform future projects for Perkins&Will and the wider industry.

Fostering collaboration

150 Holborn accommodates more than 1,000 staff from Sidara’s different group firms, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas, while ensuring each firm retains its unique identity. The principles of cohabitation and social connectivity were integral to the building’s design. A central atrium in the heart of the building connects all floors via a spiralling, sculptural staircase and four transparent glass elevators. This was made possible by offsetting the building’s core, freeing up the centre of the floor plates to create a soaring vertical space. The open, light-filled atrium features visual connections across all levels, creating clear sight lines and cultivating a collaborative environment. 

Collaborative spaces are spread throughout the building and include public exhibition spaces, a shared pavilion and cafe, and a roof garden where employees can host informal meetings and enjoy views across the London skyline.

Architectural harmony

Perkins&Will designed the proportions and scale of 150 Holborn’s facade in line with its surroundings. For instance, the height of the ground-floor retail storefronts along the east and west sides is the same as that established by neighbouring buildings.

In Holborn, like many areas of London, there’s a myriad of architectural styles. 150 Holborn’s adjacent neighbour is the Grade II* listed Prudential Assurance Building, notable for its grand Gothic Revival architecture. When designing the new head office, Perkins&Will drew inspiration from the Prudential Building’s proportions, incorporating sculpted setbacks into both the upper and lower levels.

Sustainable and smart

150 Holborn replaces a 1980s office block. Perkins&Will conducted a pre-demolition audit to identify materials that could be reused on-site, including concrete and crushed brick, and those that could be recycled off-site, such as metals. Overall, 97 percent of potential waste was salvaged.

Roof-top photovoltaic panels generate renewable energy, while an intelligent building “skin” separated by glass-reinforced concrete fins reduces energy consumption. The fins also help to minimise solar exposure.

150 Holborn is a smart building that utilises technology to create a “living lab” of data. This data can be used to measure staff well-being, operational efficiency, and asset performance.

The building’s design aims to maximise its sustainability as far as possible. The main office spaces have been certified as BREEAM Outstanding at the design stage, and are on track to achieve an Outstanding rating for the post-construction stage. 150 Holborn also achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating for its retail units and was awarded a LEED Platinum certification for new construction.

The building’s smart journey entails a three-stage process: 

Firstly, an Integrated Building Management Structure (IBMS) provides a unified digital platform that connects and automates key building systems, including heating, ventilation, and lighting.

Secondly, an Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS) optimises workplace operations in one centralised system, including space planning, room booking, maintenance, and energy use.

Thirdly, digital twin technology creates a digital replica of 150 Holborn. By harnessing real-time data from sensors, this technology simulates behaviour and monitors operations, ultimately improving decisions about building operation, maintenance, and life cycle management.

150 Holborn has achieved WiredScore Gold and SmartScore Platinum certifications, confirming its advanced digital infrastructure and intelligent operational systems.