Gensler has designed The Acre, a landmark retrofit office building in Covent Garden, London, England.

The Acre is a bold reimagining of workplace potential, transforming a 1980s Brutalist bank in Covent Garden into a high-performance, future-ready workplace that brings the community and tenants together.

Designed by Gensler for Northwood Investors, the eight-storey, all-electric building retains 80 per cent of its original structure, saving 4,250 tonnes of embodied carbon, while delivering a radically inclusive and human-centred environment.

With 900 operable windows, lush terraces and a naturally ventilated atrium, it champions user wellbeing as much as sustainability.

Achieving BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 4.5 Stars and EPC A, The Acre proves that retrofit can lead to shaping the next generation of regenerative, experiential workplaces.

This project has been longlisted in the sustainable renovation category of Dezeen Awards 2025.

Studio: Gensler
Project: The Acre, Covent Garden
Credits: Northwood Investors, Arup, Core Five, Gerald Eve and Platform