McLaren Construction has won a £40.8 million deal to develop a new commercial building in London.

The contractor will build a 100,000 sq ft office and retail development on the site of the former Guardian Newspaper headquarters at 119 Farringdon Road.

The project has been designed by AHMM and is being delivered for Viridis Real Estate. Work on the site began in July 2016 and is scheduled to finish in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Features include demolishing the existing building to create space for a nine-storey structure made up of post tensioned concrete frame clad with precast concrete panels and brick slips bonded to the precast panels.


Retail and SME space will be developed on the ground/lower ground floor areas while landscaped terrace will be built for the office accommodation. In addition, the fit-out will be delivered to a CAT A standard.

The scheme marks the second project being undertaken for Viridis by McLaren, following the 28 Chancery Lane office development scheduled for completion at the end of 2016.

David Osborne, Divisional Director, McLaren Construction London, said: "It is an absolute privilege to be engaged on a second project with Viridis Real Estate, for their client investor, a true testament to the valued working relationship developed between McLaren and Viridis on the Chancery Lane scheme. Working closely with the Viridis team to deliver this iconic building, designed by AHMM, will be a real pleasure and something that both the McLaren team and me personally are looking forward to."

(LM/CD)