UKGBC to refurb Grade II office as live showcase for retrofit innovation

A new initiative between UKGBC, developer FORE Partnership and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy, will see the refurbishment of an iconic Grade II* listed London building turned into a live showcase for innovative retrofit solutions. The project is due to start on-site in September 2025 and complete in 2027.

In an industry first, One Poultry, one of the City of London’s landmark buildings and the last designed by celebrated British architect James Stirling, will be used to demonstrate how sustainable innovative solutions might be used on a commercial retrofit project.

By making those solutions visible to other project teams and the wider industry, it is hoped that One Poultry inspires other retrofit projects across the United Kingdom, embedding innovative sustainability solutions across industry at greater speed and scale.

Located in the heart of London’s Square Mile, One Poultry sits opposite the Bank of England and was constructed in 1997. Renowned for its postmodernist architecture, the 150,000 sq ft property currently houses retailers, offices and a rooftop restaurant.

Much of the building’s interior has remained unchanged since the 1990s, and with the building becoming more inefficient and costly to operate, One Poultry’s asset manager, IGIS Asset Management, appointed FORE Partnership to oversee the building’s redevelopment.

The new initiative aims to tackle systemic challenges of retrofitting commercial buildings by embedding innovation within the retrofit strategy, spotlighting innovators from RIBA Stage 0, the concept design phase.

FORE Partnership offers extensive low-carbon retrofit experience, while the UKGBC, a champion for innovation, brings its sustainability knowledge, convening power and systems-thinking approach. Breakthrough Energy, through its venture fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures, has a portfolio of more than 120 innovative companies and brings its technology expertise and network to the initiative.