The opportunity

Foster + Partners were appointed to design Bloomberg’s European headquarters in the heart of the City of London.

Bloomberg’s ambition was to create a workplace that fully realised the value of physical proximity — a building designed to maximise opportunities for interaction, collaboration and knowledge exchange, both within the organisation and in relation to the surrounding city.

Space Syntax was engaged to advise across multiple aspects of the design. Our role was to enhance the building’s integration with its urban context while shaping an internal environment that carefully balanced vibrant, co-present spaces with quieter, focused settings essential for productive work.

Our contribution

Space Syntax undertook a series of studies at multiple scales, applying advanced spatial modelling and analytical techniques tailored to each design question.

At the urban scale, we analysed spatial network integration and pedestrian movement patterns to inform the building’s relationship with the City. This supported the case for reinstating a historic Roman route that had been severed by 1960s office development.

At the building scale, we evaluated alternative footprint configurations to understand how variations in layout, floor plate geometry, void placement and service core positioning influenced visibility, movement flows and patterns of interaction. Multiple iterations were modelled and compared to support evidence-led decision making and the selection of a preferred option.

We also tested morning arrival sequences using agent-based simulations. These studies assessed proposals to route staff through shared social spaces, balancing the objective of encouraging interaction with user comfort, convenience and operational efficiency.

Finally, we modelled the capacity and performance of entrances, lobbies, security areas and lift waiting spaces under peak morning conditions, ensuring that the building would operate effectively during its most demanding periods.

The outcome

The completed design demonstrates how a workplace can be strategically shaped to maximise the benefits of co-location. The building fosters chance encounters, informal exchange and collective awareness, while providing a carefully calibrated range of quieter and more private environments to support diverse modes of work.

At the urban scale, the scheme makes a significant contribution to the City of London. The reinstated historic street alignment strengthens permeability and connectivity, while active frontages animate the surrounding public realm and create meaningful points of engagement between staff and the wider city.

The project has received multiple awards, including the RIBA Stirling Prize and the British Council for Offices ‘Best of the Best’, recognising both its architectural quality and its contribution to workplace innovation.