Designed by tp bennett, the international architecture and design practice, Stonecutter is a new office building in the City of London that prioritises tenant experience, amenity, and sustainability. Developed by London-based CO—RE fo La Caisse and PIMCO Prime Real Estate, the project brings together ambitious sustainability targets with a design approach attuned to post-pandemic workplace needs. Stonecutter is also the first office development to meet the City of London’s “Aspirational” embodied carbon benchmark in its final built form, delivering lower upfront emissions than any other major new build in the City since Life Cycle Carbon Assessments became mandatory in 2022.

Reimagining an island site

In the City of London’s evolving Fleet Street Quarter, tp bennett has redeveloped an island site with Stonecutter, a 13-storey, 240,000-square-foot office building that incorporates ground-floor retail. The design responds sensitively to its varied urban context: externally, the materials and geometries of the facade reference the diamond-cutting heritage of nearby Hatton Garden, while internally, generous open floorplates, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and multiple roof terraces maximise natural light and provide expansive city views.

“The building’s design carefully acknowledges a Grade II listed 18th-century public house and the surrounding streetscapes that form the island site,” says James Elliott, Director at tp bennett. “We addressed the character of Farringdon Street, historic passageways such as Harp Alley, and the semi-pedestrian streets of Stonecutter and St Brides, each requiring a tailored architectural response. Access through and around the site was central to the scheme, which is why we included a pocket park and glazed pavilion to enhance the public realm.”

Inside, the ground floor hosts a dual reception, coffee bar, town hall space, gallery, and informal seating areas, creating a lively and welcoming environment. The podium level offers flexible business lounge facilities and additional retail, designed to adapt to evolving tenant needs.

Sustainability at the core

Sustainability underpins every aspect of Stonecutter. The project is the first office development in the City of London to achieve the “Aspirational” embodied carbon benchmark, delivering around 40 percent less embodied carbon than the London Plan guideline for new office buildings. Carbon savings were achieved through the reuse of foundations, low-carbon materials, and a lightweight structure designed for flexibility. An all-electric system with solar power and smart controls further reduced operational emissions.

The building aligns with BREEAM and WELL certifications, follows the CRREM pathway — a science-based framework to decarbonise real estate in line with the Paris Accord — and adopts a whole-life carbon approach. Designed with the future in mind, Stonecutter incorporates adaptable spaces, durable building elements, and circular economy principles, while extensive green roofs, terraces, and rooftop gardens enhance biodiversity and air quality.

“Stonecutter reflects our vision to deliver sustainability and exceptional design, pushing boundaries in every project. From reusing foundations to using low-carbon materials, the result is a high-performance workspace with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint,” says Alex Thorpe, Associate Director at CO—RE.

Shaping the workplace after the pandemic

Stonecutter is among the first new office buildings in the City of London to be completed as a direct response to shifting workplace priorities since the pandemic. “The pandemic highlighted the importance of health and adaptability in offices and how workplace dynamics would never be the same again. With Stonecutter, we had the opportunity to both meet the current needs of tenants in a post-pandemic workplace and anticipate the future of office space trends,” says Julian Sharpe, Principal Director at tp bennett.