Mace set to start on £130m City HQ revamp

Mace is set to start work by the spring on a £130m scheme to refurbish and extend the Woolgate Exchange in the City of London after the job was OK’d by City planners.

The plans for the nine-storey office building include a two-storey roof extension with a roof terrace on the north-west wing and a 1,500 sq ft new rooftop ‘pavilion’ with planters and seating.

Mace beat three others last summer to the work and the building at 25 Basinghall Street, opposite the Guildhall and between Moorgate and Bank underground stations, will also get a green facelift with curved balconies cantilevered from the existing structure and a portico created by the balconies above. The entrance will include a double-height collonade.

Stanhope was appointed in 2020 to lead a revamp for the applicant Woolgate Exchange Unit Trust.

Project director for Stanhope is Laura Collins, who also worked on the firm’s revamp of Warwick Court at Partnernoster Square also carried out by Mace.

Architect Stiff & Trevillion said the scheme will retain 98% of the existing building.

Keltbray has been carrying out demolition and strip-out ahead of Mace beginning in earnest in the next few weeks. The scheme is due to finish in October next year.

Others working on the job including Heyne Tillett Steel on structures, services consultant Sweco, project manager Third London Wall and QS Exigere.

Originally designed by Sidell Gibson and completed in 2000, Woolgate Exchange was developed by property investor MEPC and leased to German bank West LB before being bought by Canadian investor Ivanhoe Cambridge in 2013 for a reported £265m. The building has been empty for the past 18 months.