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Overview
99 Bishopsgate is a prominent commercial office building located in the City of London, one of the capital’s most important financial and business districts. With thousands of employees, tenants, and visitors moving through the building daily, the entrance plays a critical role in shaping both the user experience and the architectural identity of the property.
The building owners sought to upgrade the existing entrance façade to improve the visual appearance of the building while also addressing operational inefficiencies associated with the existing entrance door system. High foot traffic at peak periods was creating congestion within the entrance lobby, and the existing façade design limited the amount of natural daylight reaching the interior space.
Structura was appointed to design and install a new structural glass façade system together with all-glass revolving doors and stainless steel cladding. The project aimed to transform the entrance into a more efficient, visually striking, and functional gateway for the building while enhancing the experience for tenants and visitors.
This project demonstrates how façade engineering and structural glass design can significantly improve building entrances by combining architectural impact with practical performance improvements.
Details
Client:
Brookfield Property Partners
Location:
Central London
Architect:
Perkins + Will
Main Contractor:
Structureton
Project Metrics
While entrance refurbishment projects vary in scope depending on the building design, the 99 Bishopsgate project focused on delivering measurable improvements in both building performance and user experience. Key performance and project metrics include:
Project Type:
Commercial office entrance façade upgrade
Scope of Works:
- Structural glass entrance façade design and installation
- Installation of all-glass revolving doors
- Stainless steel cladding integration
Key Performance Improvements
- Increased natural daylight within the entrance lobby
- Improved pedestrian flow during peak traffic periods
- More efficient entrance door system
- Enhanced architectural presence for a prestigious office building
The Challenge
Entrance areas in large commercial office buildings must handle significant volumes of foot traffic while maintaining security, accessibility, and a welcoming architectural presence. The entrance at 99 Bishopsgate presented several challenges that needed to be addressed as part of the refurbishment project.
Improving the Appearance of the Existing Entrance
As a landmark commercial office building within the City of London, the visual impression created by the entrance is extremely important. The original entrance façade had begun to appear dated compared with modern commercial developments in the surrounding area. Building owners wanted a design that would create a stronger architectural presence and reinforce the building’s status as a prestigious office location. The new entrance needed to appear more open, modern, and visually striking while still integrating seamlessly with the existing structure. Achieving this balance required careful façade engineering to ensure the upgraded entrance complemented the building’s architecture rather than appearing disconnected from it.
Increasing Natural Daylight into the Lobby
Another key issue with the existing entrance design was limited natural daylight reaching the entrance lobby. Insufficient daylight can create darker interior spaces that feel less welcoming and require greater reliance on artificial lighting. Improving the amount of daylight entering the lobby was therefore a priority for the refurbishment project. Increasing daylight penetration would not only improve the visual quality of the interior environment but also enhance the experience for tenants and visitors entering the building. To achieve this goal, the new entrance façade needed to maximise transparency while maintaining structural integrity and weather performance.
Improving Entrance Efficiency
High-traffic office buildings often experience congestion at peak arrival and departure times. The existing entrance door system at 99 Bishopsgate was contributing to bottlenecks during busy periods, particularly when large numbers of occupants were entering or exiting the building simultaneously. A more efficient entrance door system was required to ensure smooth pedestrian flow while maintaining building security and environmental separation between the interior and exterior spaces. The solution needed to accommodate large volumes of people without creating delays or congestion within the entrance lobby.
Integrating the New Façade with the Existing Structure
Installing a new structural glass entrance within an existing building requires precise coordination between design and installation teams. The façade must be carefully engineered so that the new glass elements integrate correctly with the existing building structure. The design also needed to incorporate stainless steel cladding and revolving door systems while ensuring the final installation delivered both structural stability and visual clarity.
Structura’s Solution
Structura delivered a comprehensive entrance façade upgrade designed to enhance both the architectural presence and operational efficiency of the building. The project involved the design and installation of a new structural glass façade, the integration of all-glass revolving doors, and the installation of stainless steel cladding elements to create a distinctive and modern entrance.
Structural Glass Façade Design
The centrepiece of the new entrance was a structural glass façade designed to maximise transparency and allow greater levels of natural daylight into the building lobby. Structural glass façades use minimal framing systems to support large glass panels, creating a clean and visually open appearance. This approach allows the entrance to appear lighter and more contemporary while maintaining the strength required for long-term structural performance.
By replacing the previous façade with a structural glass system, the entrance now provides improved visibility between the interior and exterior environments while dramatically increasing the amount of daylight entering the lobby.y
Installation of All-Glass Revolving Doors
To improve pedestrian flow and operational efficiency, Structura installed a new all-glass revolving door system at the building entrance. Revolving doors offer several advantages in busy commercial buildings. They allow continuous movement of people entering and exiting the building, they reduce congestion compared with traditional swing doors, and they help maintain environmental separation between interior and exterior spaces. The all-glass design maintains the visual clarity of the structural glass façade while ensuring the entrance system remains highly functional during peak traffic periods.
Stainless Steel Cladding Integration
In addition to the glass façade and revolving doors, stainless steel cladding elements were incorporated into the entrance design to enhance the overall architectural impact. Stainless steel provides both visual contrast and durability, creating a refined and contemporary finish that complements the transparency of the structural glass façade. The combination of glass and stainless steel materials results in an entrance that feels both modern and substantial, reinforcing the building’s position as a high-quality commercial office environment.
Careful Installation & Coordination
Installing a new entrance façade in a busy commercial building requires careful planning and coordination. Structura worked closely with project stakeholders to ensure the installation process was completed efficiently while minimising disruption to building occupants. The new façade elements were installed with precision to ensure alignment with the existing structure and to deliver a seamless finished appearance. This coordinated approach allowed the project to be completed while maintaining safe access to the building throughout the installation process.
Project Results
The completed entrance façade at 99 Bishopsgate delivers both architectural and operational improvements that benefit tenants, visitors, and building owners. By combining structural glass engineering with a modern entrance door system, the project successfully addressed the challenges identified at the start of the refurbishment.
Increased Daylight in the Entrance Lobby
One of the most noticeable improvements delivered by the project is the significant increase in natural daylight entering the building lobby. The transparency of the structural glass façade allows daylight to penetrate deeper into the entrance space, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment for occupants and visitors. This improvement enhances the overall quality of the interior space while reducing reliance on artificial lighting during daytime hours.
Improved Pedestrian Flow
The installation of all-glass revolving doors has significantly improved the efficiency of the building entrance. During peak arrival and departure periods, large numbers of people can now move through the entrance more smoothly. The revolving door system allows continuous movement, reducing congestion and eliminating the bottlenecks previously experienced with the older entrance system. This improvement benefits both tenants and visitors by creating a faster and more convenient entry experience.
A Stronger Architectural Presence
The new entrance façade creates a more imposing and visually impressive gateway to the building. The combination of structural glass and stainless steel cladding gives the entrance a contemporary and high-quality appearance that reflects the prestige of the office building. From street level, the upgraded entrance enhances the building’s visual identity while maintaining harmony with the surrounding architecture of the City of London.
Enhanced User Experience
Beyond its architectural impact, the new entrance significantly improves the day-to-day experience of those using the building. Key user benefits include brighter and more welcoming lobby spaces, faster and smoother building entry, improved circulation during busy periods, and a modern and visually impressive entrance environment. These improvements contribute to the overall functionality and appeal of the building for both tenants and visitors.