In pictures: BGY’s sustainable revamp of Canary Wharf’s 30 South Colonnade
UK architect BGY has led the major refurbishment of 30 South Colonnade in Canary Wharf, now rebranded as YY London, delivering a larger, more energy-efficient building with stronger links to the surrounding public realm.
The £104 million project expands the net internal area from 28,850 sq m to 37,900 sq m and increases total gross internal area from 40,710 sq m to 50,500 sq m, including 2,800 sq m of retail space (up from 1,500 sq m existing). The scheme retains the original structure, avoiding demolition, and maintains the building’s distinctive curved frontage from its 1991 completion by Kohn Pedersen Fox and EPR, while replacing the marble facade with high-performance glazing.
BGY adopted a fabric-first approach, with the thermal performance of the new glazing far exceeding that of the original facade, reducing overall energy demand by 62%. Retaining the structure avoids an estimated 10,260 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to planting 51,300 trees or making 1,480 car trips around the equator. The building is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, WELL ready, and platinum WiredScore ratings, with integrated smart technologies.
New entrance
At street level, the entrance will move to a new triple-height, publicly accessible gateway on Jubilee Plaza, facing Canary Wharf tube station, and incorporating food and beverage units. Inside, the reception will span two floors, with access from both Promenade and Plaza levels.
By infilling an existing atrium and modestly increasing the height from 15 to 17 storeys, the project delivers a 25% uplift in net internal area without expanding the footprint. The building will have 16 floors above ground plus a shared roof terrace.
The client team comprises: Quadrant, Oaktree Capital Management and Victoria Asset Management, with Avison Young as project manager, Quantem Consulting as quantity surveyor, Waterman Structures as structural engineer, DP9 as planning consultant, and Hilson Moran providing services, fire, acoustic and BREEAM consulting. Knight Frank and CBRE are the letting agents.
