McClaren to deliver UK's largest all timber office

McLaren Construction has been appointed by Global Holdings Management Group to deliver Xylo, a 100,000 sq ft all-timber office development in Clerkenwell, which is set to become the UK’s largest of its kind.

The nine-storey scheme, designed by Piercy & Co and due for completion in Q2 2028, will feature a full timber frame structure using glulam beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT), supplied by Hybrid Structures, part of the William Hare Group. Once built, the structure will store over 2,400 tonnes of CO₂ and is targeting embodied carbon levels 50% lower than a typical London office.

Xylo aims to set new standards in sustainable workplace design. The building is targeting several industry-leading environmental certifications, including LETI Pioneer status, a NABERS UK 5.5-star rating, and BREEAM ‘Excellent’. Operational carbon emissions are expected to be up to 82% lower than conventional office buildings, supported by energy-efficient systems and natural material finishes throughout.

Located in Clerkenwell, near Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations, the building will include a vaulted 6.5-metre-high entrance lobby, five landscaped terraces, a rooftop garden, and a 3,640 sq ft town hall space with lounge and auditorium. Additional facilities include a restaurant, yoga deck, cycle parking, and end-of-trip showers.

The modular timber frame allows for flexible reconfiguration of internal layouts, enabling the building to adapt to occupiers’ changing needs over time. McLaren joins a project team that includes Avison Young as project manager, Max Fordham as services and sustainability engineers, and Heyne Tillett Steel for structural and civil engineering.

Xylo is being developed at a time of growing interest in low-carbon construction methods and reflects a broader industry shift toward net-zero building practices.