The Scoop Office Building / Corstorphine & Wright

Architects: Corstorphine & Wright
Year: 2024
Brickwork: Grafton
Structural Engineer: Conisbee
M&E: We Design For
Architects: Corstorphine & Wright
Facade Engineer: WBD Group
Facade Fabricator: Winthill Engineering
Quantity Surveyor / Project Manager: LXA
Client Representative: Simon Gardner
Client: ThomsonHillsBalfour Limited
City: London
Country: United Kingdom

The Scoop Office Building, designed by Corstorphine & Wright in Southwark, London, has reconfigured an existing four-storey structure with a concave white-glazed brick facade that responds to its context, notably the adjacent Grade II listed Church of Most Precious Blood. Set in the Union Street Conservation Area, the project retains key elevations and integrates a new extension, enhancing the area’s creative identity. Developed with ThomsonHillsBalfour Limited (THB), the building offers Cat A office space with a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, adds vertical and lateral expansions, and introduces a roof garden with panoramic city views. A semi-circular cut-out in the facade frames the church’s circular window and aligns at ground level with the historic 1892 structure by Frederick Walters. The architects emphasized the design’s role in balancing the visibility of the church with a bold architectural form, while the client highlighted the importance of sustainability and community awareness.

The scoop office building / corstorphine & wright

UK-based architecture firm Corstorphine & Wright has completed The Scoop, a concave office building located in Southwark, London. The project involves the adaptive reuse of an existing structure and features a conical cut-out facade clad in white glazed bricks, offering a deliberate and context-aware architectural response to both the site and the neighboring church. Positioned within the Union Street Conservation Area, the building embodies a contemporary architectural approach while maintaining sensitivity to its historic surroundings, particularly the adjacent Grade II listed Church of Most Precious Blood, whose circular window is now distinctly framed. Moreover, the building is set within a culturally significant area that includes the Union Theatre, Jerwood Space, and Flat Iron Square.

The design preserves the prominent south-facing and corner-return sections of the original facade, integrating them into a newly constructed extension. This approach enables a cohesive insertion into the surrounding urban fabric and contributes to the area’s established creative and artistic character. In collaboration with the community-focused clients, ThomsonHillsBalfour Limited (THB), Corstorphine & Wright has delivered a distinctive building that has drawn attention since its unveiling. The Scoop incorporates several key elements: the reuse and transformation of an existing four-story office structure into high-quality Cat A office space with a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification; lateral and vertical extensions that expand the original footprint and introduce a roof garden offering panoramic views of major London landmarks; a pronounced semi-circular void in the south facade that functions as a visual link between previously disconnected sightlines; and a ground floor that directly aligns with the facade of the adjacent Roman Catholic church, a Grade II listed building completed in 1892 by Frederick Walters.

David Crosthwait, director at Corstorphine & Wright, described the project as one the team is “proud and excited to share.” He explained that the scooped facade enabled the building to extend in front of the church through a symbiotic relationship that both preserves and enhances the church’s prominence and visibility, while delivering a distinctive office headquarters. He emphasized the importance of honoring the area’s cultural and historical context and maintaining respect for the neighboring church, ensuring its continued visibility and architectural significance. According to Crosthwait, the resulting building achieves a deliberate balance—supporting the visibility of its surroundings while contributing to the architectural and cultural richness of the area.

David Crosthwait acknowledged that the project’s success would not have been possible without the vision and ongoing support of the client, who remained committed throughout its challenges. He noted that reaching this stage represents a significant achievement and reflects the impact bold design can have in shaping and improving the city. The building owners, Amanda and Peter Hills Balfour and Steve and Sarah Thomson of ThomsonHillsBalfour Limited (THB), expressed their satisfaction with the completed project. They emphasized the importance of delivering distinctive office spaces in a considered and sustainable manner, both for themselves and their tenants, MMGY Global. Their intent was to create an environment that supports those working within it while demonstrating awareness and respect for the surrounding community, residents, and businesses.