4 Coleman Street, City of London Office Refurbishment
17 June 2026
Design: Barr Gazetas
Location: 4 Coleman Street, City of London, England, UK.
Photos © Philip Vile
Barr Gazetas completes office transformation in the City of London
Barr Gazetas has completed the refurbishment of 4 Coleman Street for client Railpen, in the heart of the City of London. Two minutes from Moorgate station and totalling 35,000 sq. ft. of office space, the project includes a new double-height entrance space and lounge, two fully fitted CAT B office floors, three floors of CAT A, and lower ground amenities including a large private gym, yoga studio, changing rooms and cycle store.
The scheme reinvents a tired 1990s office building, giving it a new identity and character. In response to the growing demand for high-quality, flexible workspace in central London, the project delivers a future-ready workplace that focusses on sustainability, adaptability and user wellbeing, supported by state-of-the-art amenities.
Marcus Pethica, Project Director and Interior Design Lead at Barr Gazetas said, “At 4 Coleman Street, we wanted to go beyond a typical office refurbishment and rethink both the building’s environmental impact and its everyday experience. The team focused on opening up the ground floor to create a more generous, light-filled arrival, while embedding circular principles throughout, including the use of quality natural materials and tactile, low-impact finishes”.
Double-height entrance
The most significant transformation is the new entrance portal at ground level, which was previously small and uninviting. Barr Gazetas has significantly enlarged the opening, allowing light to flood in and better connecting the lobby with the street. The upgraded internal space also significantly increases lounge and amenity provision. The arrival journey is now a welcoming, light-filled transition between the street and the workplace.
The new elegantly framed entrance has expansive glazing, which draws natural light into the building while offering glimpses into the interior from the street, creating a more attractive presence. Internally, the removal of walls has enabled a fluid, open space, incorporating a flexible breakout area for informal meetings and social interaction.
Materiality is central to the reception design. Bespoke fluted cladding made from recycled aggregate GRC adds a tactile, distinctive finish. Recycled cork flooring and a black cork-clad reception desk improve acoustics while enriching the space visually. Recycled leather-wrapped columns create a warm, welcoming arrival and further reflect the project’s commitment to reuse and circular design.
Sustainability and material re-use
The specification at 4 Coleman Street has been conscious of using natural and circular materials to create identity and aesthetic within the premium office refurbishment.
Moving beyond the arrival space, Marmoleum flooring has been selected for the stair core and lower ground. This product is 98% natural, with rapidly renewable raw materials. Where new carpet has been added, Desso Airmaster with EcoBase backing has been specified. Elsewhere there is engineered acoustic timber flooring.
Lime plaster adorns the walls, along with recycled leather-clad columns throughout. Archisonic acoustic panels in meeting rooms are made from recycled plastic bottles. The bathroom WCs have compressed bamboo doors.
The building now also has generous planting throughout, improving air quality and productivity. The greenery subtly makes reference to the rarified green space adjacent to the building, connecting the interior and exterior.
Adaptability and user-wellbeing
Barr Gazetas transformed the lower floors while the upper levels remained occupied during construction.
Marcus Pethica adds: “Delivering our vision for the project in an occupied building added a unique layer of complexity, requiring careful coordination throughout. It’s a challenge the team embraced with care and creativity, maintaining operations while delivering a high-quality transformation.”
The workspace is organised around large, flexible floorplates designed to accommodate a range of occupier needs, with open-plan areas complemented by meeting rooms, quiet spaces and breakout zones that support both collaboration and focused work. Exposed waffle slab ceilings reveal the building’s original structure, reducing the need for additional finishes and contributing to a refined, low-carbon interior, while a modular base build allows tenants to adapt the space over time.
User wellbeing and convenience were key drivers of the scheme. The previously underused basement has been transformed into high-quality occupier amenities, including a fully equipped gym with a yoga studio, cardio room and weights space. Barr Gazetas has also incorporated state-of-the-art end of trip facilities to support active travel and modern working patterns, with cycle storage, changing rooms, showers, and a drying and laundry room integrated into the building.
Barr Gazetas
Architecture practice Barr Gazetas was established in 1993 and today works on award winning office and residential projects across the UK. It is a certified B-Corporation known for its progressive approach to design and placemaking, and its sensitive refurbishment of existing and historic buildings. The practice puts people, sustainability, wellness, and the future, at the centre of every project. It has been named in the 2026 Sunday Times Best Places to Work.
Recent work includes the heritage-led refurbishment, Grainhouse, unifying five historic buildings in Covent Garden which has been awarded BCO Corporate Workplace Award; Fivefields, an impact-driven workspace for charities and social value organisations designed with neurodiversity as a key focus; Holbein Gardens, a redevelopment and extension of a 1980s building located off Sloane Square, which will achieve Net Zero operational carbon by 2030.
Photographs © Philip Vile
4 Coleman Street, City of London workspace images / information received 151125
Location: Gordon St, Bloomsbury, London, England, UK
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