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BATTERSEA POWER STATION UNVEILS COMPLETED FOSTER + PARTNERS-DESIGNED OFFICE SPACE 50 ELECTRIC BOULEVARD
Battersea Power Station has unveiled the completion of 50 Electric Boulevard, a new 200,000 sq ft prime workplace designed by Foster + Partners. The state-of-the-art workspace has been designed to cater to a wide range of office space requirements and new businesses setting up offices in London.
With spectacular views of Battersea Power Station’s iconic chimneys, the striking Gehry Partners’ buildings and the London skyline, the curved glass facade of Foster + Partners’ latest London workplace is located to the south of the Grade II* listed Power Station. It forms a key part of Electric Boulevard, a pedestrianised high street complete with new homes, the 164-room art’otel London Battersea Power Station, shops, bars, restaurants and more.
50 Electric Boulevard has been designed with wellbeing and smart tech at its heart, elevating employee experience and catering for the future of work.
Prospective tenants will join a thriving office community at Battersea Power Station with over 3,500 office workers based in over 30 different companies, including Apple who have settled into their new 500,000 sq ft UK headquarters inside the Power Station, leading home technology company, SharkNinja and within IWG’s flexible co-working offering, The Engine Room.
London is considered a global financial and business hub, attracting businesses from around the world, including the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. According to the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), London consistently ranks as one of the top global financial centers, known for its connectivity, infrastructure and business-friendly environment. In a study conducted by Statista in December 2023, approximately 5.55 million private businesses are currently in operation in the United Kingdom. The private sector employs around 27 million people with a combined turnover of over £4.48 trillion.
Many businesses from the MENA region are choosing to establish offices in London due to its strategic location, access to international markets and diverse talent pool. The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) facilitates trade and business relationships between the MENA region and the UK, highlighting the strong economic ties between the two regions. The newly inaugurated 50 Electric Boulevard offers modern amenities and a vibrant community, making it an attractive destination for businesses aiming to establish a presence in London, England.
Designed by Foster + Partners, 50 Electric Boulevard is the latest phase to be completed at Battersea Power Station, the new 42-acre riverside neighbourhood in Central London. Foster + Partners has designed several prestigious developments in the MENA region, showcasing their expertise and contribution to the region’s architectural landscape, includingThe Index Tower in Dubai, The Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, and The Peninsula in Doha.
Biophilic design elements are prominent throughout the WELL Platinum-rated building, including the 240-person ‘Light Box’ amenity space with a presentation area, trees, and giant skylights. These features create a spacious area for colleagues to gather away from their desks. Additionally, the building boasts an 1,800 sq ft communal roof garden with breathtaking views of the Power Station, River Thames, and the London skyline. The WELL Platinum rating is a performance-based system that measures, certifies, and monitors features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being. It is awarded to buildings designed to enhance the health and well-being of occupants.
Across the wider estate is the six-acre Power Station Park set on 450m of River Thames frontage and once the Battersea Power Station development is fully completed, there will be 19 acres of public realm for all to enjoy.
50 Electric Boulevard has also achieved the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Outstanding rating, which is a prestigious sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure, and buildings. This rating measures sustainable value across various categories, such as energy and ecology, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of developments over their life cycle. The workplace features typical 16,000 sq ft floor plates, each with outdoor terraces and floor-to-ceiling glazing with openable windows. Additionally, its SmartScore Platinum-rated digital infrastructure provides top-notch connectivity and a seamless, contactless building experience.
Workers at 50 Electric Boulevard will be able to enjoy Battersea Power Station’s rich breadth of amenities including over 140 shops, bars and restaurants, a cinema and the unique chimney lift experience, Lift 109. Right on 50 Electric Boulevard’s doorstep, tenants will find brands including ZARA, ZARA Home, M&S Foodhall, Dishoom, Boots Beauty and Massimo Dutti with more opening shortly including London’s latest luxury fitness and health club, Third Space. Workers can also benefit from the nearby 200-acre Battersea Park with its lake, running track, tennis courts and more, as well as the wealth of businesses, shops, restaurants and leisure opportunities across Battersea and Nine Elms.
The elegant curving exterior of 50 Electric Boulevard angles towards the Grade II* listed Power Station (image credit: Hufton + Crow (left) and Taran Wilkhu (right))
Moments from the entrance to 50 Electric Boulevard is the Zone 1 Battersea Power Station Underground station on the Northern Line Extension, placing workers within 15-minutes from the West End and the City. The building also has 319 cycle spaces along with state-of-the-art changing rooms and showers, and 26 dedicated e-car parking spaces, enabling workers to commute sustainably. Commuters can also travel by river on the UberBoat by Thames Clippers service, docking at the Battersea Power Station pier.
Sam Cotton, Head of Asset Management at Battersea Power Station Development Company, said:
“50 Electric Boulevard provides occupants and new businesses with the opportunity to join the thriving community at Battersea Power Station, with its amenity rich environment offering a strong mix of retail, bars, restaurants, and leisure experiences for employees to enjoy right on the doorstep.
“With 28.3 million sq ft of leases expiring in the next three years, according to Knight Frank, demand for tech-enabled, new-build, sustainable office spaces in London have reached a 10-year high. Our current workspaces in the iconic Power Station are fully let to global brands and we’re now bringing 50 Electric Boulevard, a new world class, next generation workplace to market to reflect the demand we’ve seen to date from best-in-class businesses who want to become a part of our new riverside neighbourhood.”
Grant Brooker, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said:
“We wanted 50 Electric Boulevard to be flooded with light and, of course, to benefit from natural ventilation. We believe its floor-to-ceiling windows and cantilevered balconies create a permeable, flexible, and healthy working environment. The use of greenery and natural materials throughout the spaces are positive benefits to wellbeing for everyone who works there.
“A glass-fronted entrance lobby on Electric Boulevard features touchdown workspaces and relaxed seating areas. The communal pavilion above is lit by generous roof lights and includes a coffee bar and bleacher seating for larger events.
“50 Electric Boulevard’s soft undulating form creates a varying floorplate, which provides maximum flexibility for its tenants and creates a building that can evolve to meet the future requirements of the workplace. The design is closely related to our adjacent Battersea Roof Gardens building, and they both aim to create a strong contrast with the monumental and iconic Power Station.”
Knight Frank, CBRE and Union Street Partners are the retained agents for 50 Electric Boulevard.
Office space is available at 50 Electric Boulevard from 10,500 sq ft. For more information, please visit https://50electricblvd.com/ and follow @BatterseaPwrStn to keep up to date with the latest news and events.