Bloomberg London
| Company type | Office complex |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services / Media / Technology |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Area served | Europe |
Key people | Michael Bloomberg (founder of parent company) |
| Products | Office space for Bloomberg L.P. |
Number of employees | 4000 |
| Parent | Bloomberg L.P. |
Bloomberg London serves as the European headquarters for Bloomberg L.P. and is situated in the City of London. Opened in 2017, this office complex occupies the former location of Bucklersbury House at 3 Queen Victoria Street.
Design and construction
Conceived by Foster and Partners with structural engineering by AKT II, and constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine at an investment of £1 billion, the development consists of two separate buildings connected by a covered arcade and linked via bridges. This arcade, which contains multiple dining venues, revives a segment of the historic Roman Watling Street. Prior to building work, archaeological excavations revealed Roman wooden writing tablets, now known as the Bloomberg tablets.
The façade incorporates 9,600 tonnes of Derbyshire sandstone complemented by bronze ventilation fins. Internally, a 210-meter spiraling bronze ramp along with bespoke glass elevators connect floors designed around external cores to optimize open-plan workspace. The entrance lobby features a timber "vortex" installation that leads to a double-height pantry on the sixth floor, offering views towards St Paul's Cathedral. The building is designed to accommodate 4,000 employees with potential for future growth; all workstations are equipped with electric height-adjustable desks.
Artworks displayed include pieces by Olafur Eliasson and an outdoor triptych sculpture titled "Forgotten Streams" by Cristina Iglesias, which pays homage to the historic course of the Walbrook river.
In 2018, Bloomberg London was awarded the prestigious Stirling Prize by the RIBA.
Energy performance
Noted for its sustainability credentials, the building achieved an outstanding 98.5% rating on the BREEAM environmental assessment—the highest ever recorded at design stage for a significant office project. Rainwater harvested from the roof is utilized in vacuum toilets, while half a million LEDs provide lighting throughout office areas. Custom aluminium ceiling elements, inspired by New York’s traditional pressed metal designs, function simultaneously as light diffusers, cooling devices, and sound absorbers.
Despite these innovations, the project attracted criticism regarding resource efficiency: it employed specialised materials with limited wider applicability and incorporated 600 tonnes of Japanese bronze alongside 10,000 tonnes of imported Indian granite rather than using local or recycled alternatives.
Bank Tube station access
As part of the development, a new entrance was added to the Bank and Monument station complex, offering direct access to the Waterloo & City line through four escalators and two lifts—introducing step-free access for the first time at this location. Construction started in November 2015; the entrance was officially inaugurated in December 2018 by London Mayor Sadiq Khan alongside former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The entrance is adorned with etched glass panels created by artist John Hutton, depicting 66 figures inspired by the area's Roman heritage, including references to the Roman Temple of Mithras. These artworks originally decorated Bucklersbury House, which previously occupied this site after World War II.
Mithraeum
Bloomberg London is situated above the site of the ancient London Mithraeum, a Roman temple whose remains were relocated in 1962. During construction of Bloomberg London, these remnants were moved closer to their original position and are now accessible to visitors.
Additionally, the building houses Bloomberg Space, a venue dedicated to exhibiting diverse artworks.