41 Lothbury

Schüco curtain wall systems have played a central role in transforming 41 Lothbury, an iconic office building adjacent to the Bank of England, into a sustainable, high-performance workplace for the 21st century.

Originally completed in 1931 for the London & Westminster Bank, the Grade II* listed, seven-storey building has been sensitively refurbished and extended into an eight-storey contemporary office space for developer Pembroke. The design by Stiff + Trevellion reimagines the building’s rooftop, introducing a completely renewed seventh floor and a new eighth floor extension, complete with outdoor terraces and panoramic views across the City of London.

The façade package was delivered by specialist Vision Arch, who were recommended for the project by Stiff + Trevellion and façade consultant NET PM following their successful collaboration on two previous developments. Working to a performance specification and with full contractor design responsibility, Vision Arch partnered with Schüco to create a bespoke, high-performance façade solution that met the project’s architectural and environmental ambitions.

Sustainability was at the heart of the 41 Lothbury redevelopment. Schüco Ultra Low Carbon aluminium profiles were specified for the project, significantly reducing embodied carbon and contributing to the building’s target of achieving BREEAM Outstanding.

Integrating a contemporary façade within a protected historic structure required meticulous coordination. “Careful design detailing was imperative to ensure connections and sealing to the existing fabric, while accommodating movement and construction tolerances,” explains Eddie Wells, Managing Director at Vision Arch.

Bespoke and standard Schüco systems were combined to achieve slender sightlines that maximise views while supporting the weight of large glass units. Custom extrusions were also produced to replicate the profiles of the original curtain walling, which were no longer available. “We produced three bespoke aluminium extrusion dies for the project, including for the brise soleil, which the architect wanted to match the existing system,” adds Wells.

The redevelopment of 41 Lothbury demonstrates how a listed building can be revitalised and extended using Schüco façade systems to deliver a high-performance, flexible, and sustainable workspace, one that honours the building’s heritage while embracing the future of modern office design.