Lego plans to shift 1,500 employees to a fresh iconic headquarters.
Lego Sets Sail for the Cultural Heart of London: A Sustainable Journey to Southbank
In a thrilling turn of events, iconic toy manufacturer Lego is set to embark on an ambitious move, relocating its London headquarters to the renowned 76 Southbank, as confirmed recently. This sprawling riverside building, originally crafted by the legendary brutalist architect Sir Denys Lasdun, will soon be buzzing with up to 1,500 creative minds, representing the near-tripled UK workforce of Lego since the opening of its London hub in 2014.
In a statement, Chief People Officer Loren Shuster expressed his excitement, likening Southbank's allure to the pulsating heart of London itself. Shuster further elaborated that the building's design and amenities would perfectly complement Lego's ethos of collaboration, innovation, and play.
As the move aligns with the company's sustainability agenda, the eco-conscious 76 Southbank is poised to be powered by renewable energy and boast rooftop solar panels. This shift towards green power is part of a broader sustainability-driven transformation sweeping through various London office sectors, as employers strive to create appealing workspaces for staff and landlords navigate tighter environmental standards for buildings.
In fact, office buildings in the city are increasingly adopting green practices and instituting employee-friendly features. These initiatives range from the reuse-first construction philosophy, which minimizes carbon footprint, to health-focused designs that prioritize natural light, outdoor access, and collaborative zones. Some exemplary projects in this respect are the BCO award-winning 1 EdCity Walk offering community-driven spaces and the 65 Gresham Street retrofit, a pioneering endeavor that eliminates fossil fuels and targets a reduced whole-life carbon footprint.
Lego's decision to voyage to Southbank is just the beginning of its global expansion. The Danish company has plans to establish new hubs in Boston and Copenhagen, alongside ongoing upgrades to its existing Billund headquarters and a new manufacturing site under construction in the US. With over 31,000 employees globally, the company is poised to bring its unique blend of creativity and sustainability to the world stage.
Aside from 76 Southbank, the Southbank area has attracted other major tenants like Paypal, who made their move to the building known towards the end of last week. Adjacent to the National Theatre, the metamorphosed 72 Upper Ground, fondly called 'The Slab', is slated to undergo a transformation into offices, retail units, and an arts and culture space by Mitsubishi, with the project set to open in 2028. This burgeoning hotspot certainly seems to be setting new benchmarks for sustainable, employee-centric office design.
- In the process of global expansion, Lego's modernised Finance and Business sectors are preparing to move into the sustainably designed 76 Southbank, located in the Southbank area.
- Alongside Lego, technology-driven companies like Ahmm are anticipated to find Southbank appealing, with its focus on collaboration, innovation, and play.
- With PayPal already settling in the Southbank area, the region is expected to become a hub for the relocation of various corporate entities, attracted by the green practices and employee-friendly features of the buildings.
- As Lego sets sail for the cultural heart of London, the League of iconic brands in the realm of Property, Technology, and Finance is projected to align and thrive in this burgeoning, sustainable Southbank community.
