Open House Festival

The Broadgate Tower

architectural practice

SOM, 2008

6th Floor, 20 Primrose Street, EC2A 2EW

Two exclusive tours of SOM’s London studio in the iconic Broadgate Tower, offering rare insight into the workings of the globally renowned architecture, engineering, and planning firm. Taking place during a milestone year celebrating SOM London’s 40th anniversary and SOM’s 90th anniversary globally, the tours highlight the studio’s legacy, culture, and collaborative design process.

Getting there

Tube

Liverpool Street

Train

Shoreditch High Street

Bus

8, 26, 48, 149, 388

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

Please share accessibility needs when registering so we can make arrangements. Access involves pre-planning due to nearby construction.

Create a free visitor account to book festival tickets

Activities

Sat 12 Sep

Guided tour

11:00–12:30

Guided tour of SOM’s London studio

Guided tour of SOM’s London studio in The Broadgate Tower, offering a rare look inside our collaborative, sustainable workspace.

How to book

Bookings will open at midday on 19 August. You won't be able to book a ticket before then.

Guided tour

14:00–15:30

Guided tour of SOM’s London studio

Guided tour of SOM’s London studio in The Broadgate Tower, offering a rare look inside our collaborative, sustainable workspace.

How to book

Bookings will open at midday on 19 August. You won't be able to book a ticket before then.

About

Overview

Soaring 540 ft above you, the Broadgate Tower is one of the buildings defining the City of London skyline. The tower stand prominently within the renowned Broadgate business district, as part of a journey that started nearly 30 years ago. Since then, the business world has changed dramatically and so has Broadgate, constantly adapting and refreshing – helping the City hold its position as a global financial centre and providing companies with the facilities they need to succeed.

With floor-to-ceiling glazing, The Broadgate Tower offers expansive views across the capital, set in the centre of some of its most vibrant neighbourhoods.

As well as an eclectic mix of architecture, Broadgate is also home to a number of beautiful open spaces, which host exciting year-round events.

Design and Architecture

Completed in 2008, this 33-storey office building was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), who now occupy the sixth floor. At 33 storeys, The Broadgate Tower ranks among London’s tallest structures and forms the pinnacle of the Broadgate Estate on the eastern edge of the City of London.

SOM’s London office occupies a 1,200 square-metre floor within the tower and has been based here since 2014, relocating to a newly fitted-out space two floors up in 2024 to support a growing team. The design of the studio reflects SOM’s integrated approach to practice, fostering collaboration through a variety of flexible work settings while demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability.

Located above Liverpool Street Station, the tower itself was constructed over active rail tracks and shares a 2.3-acre deck with 201 Bishopsgate. Structural steel struts crisscrossing the glass façades of both buildings give them a rigorous, expressive quality, while a covered passageway lined with shops and cafés creates an active public realm between them.

Sustainable features across the development include heat-recovery systems and daylight-responsive lighting controls. The Broadgate Tower has been widely recognised for its contribution to London’s skyline, receiving the New City Architecture Award and being named Best Tall Building in Europe by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Online presence

www.som.com

www.instagram.com/skidmoreowingsmerrill

www.linkedin.com/company/skidmoreowingsmerrill

x.com/SOM_Design

Nearby

Back to top of page