Steel reconfiguration for Canary Wharf office block

One of the first buildings to be built on the Canary Wharf financial estate in east London is currently being reconfigured and enlarged with the aid of steel construction.

Built in 1991, YY London at 30 South Colonnade, named due to its new Y-shaped cladding, is being stripped back to its structural steel frame, extended upwards with three new floors and reconfigured internally from the ground up.

“The goal was very much to design a building that was striking and beautiful, but also that changed the ground floor experience locally… It will be active, lively and welcoming to members of the public,” said Quadrant’s Partner, Julian Neave.

“The terrace on top of the building has been designed with a pavilion that will be communal to a multi-let building or private to a single-let building, and could be used for board meetings right through to Yoga sessions, art installations or drinks parties.”

Working on behalf of main contractor Skanska, Severfield is fabricating, supplying and erecting 1,500t of new steelwork for the project.

Skanska Project Director Tony Boorer said: “Reconfiguring an existing building is an economic method of creating modern commercial space. On this project, for example, the piled foundations are being reused, which means we have had no groundworks to do and consequently we have a quicker programme.”

Aiming to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, the landmark project is due to complete in November 2022.