When the redevelopment of Broad Street and Liverpool Street stations allowed for the Square Mile to be extended northwards in the mid-1980s it heralded the first American-style office development in the UK.

Known as Broadgate and developed by the now-defunct Rosehaugh Stanhope it combined fast track construction techniques with the highest specification offices on large floor plates. We take these for granted now, but in the age of the Ford Capri, these were revolutionary and unheard of in City circles.

Maggie Thatcher officially opened the development and we all stood back in awe at the scale of the project.

Now almost 25 years on these offices are now no longer the hot ticket even though the location is now accepted as a prime City quarter.

UBS has long been an occupier there and is keen to remain. It has agreed a deal with British Land and it’s partner Blackstone on a new
700,000 sq ft hq designed by Make

The proposed 12-story, energy efficient building looks visually stunning in its cgis and is testament to the evolution of the modern office and the discerning needs of today’s occupier.