Panorama St. Paul’s at 81 Newgate Street is a major commercial retrofit in central London that demonstrates how deep refurbishment can compete with new-build standards in both performance and design. The scheme, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), transforms a 1980s office block into a high-efficiency, Grade A workplace aligned with net-zero carbon ambitions.

The building envelope is engineered by façade contractor Focchi S.p.A. and is defined by a high-specification glass-and-stone system. The façade integrates over 9,000 m² of advanced glazing supplied by Tvitec in collaboration with Cricursa, forming one of the key technical drivers of the project’s environmental performance.

The glazing specification is heavily performance-led. The primary system consists of double-glazed insulating glass units (IGUs) using low-iron glass to maximise light transmission and reduce green colour distortion. These units incorporate solar-control coatings such as Cool-Lite SK by Saint-Gobain, helping regulate solar heat gain in a dense urban environment while maintaining high daylight levels for office interiors. The IGUs are engineered to meet stringent U-value and g-value targets typical of high-end London office redevelopments.

Acoustic performance is addressed through laminated safety glass build-ups, designed to mitigate external noise from surrounding traffic corridors and commercial activity. These laminated assemblies also improve impact resistance and enhance façade safety performance in line with commercial building regulations.

A key architectural feature is the inclusion of curved glazing elements supplied by Cricursa, used to articulate façade corners and transitions. These components are manufactured in both laminated and insulating configurations, combining precision bending with thermal performance requirements. Low-iron curved glass ensures visual continuity across flat and curved planes, maintaining a uniform façade appearance.

Additional detailing includes low-iron laminated glass balustrades using heat-strengthened 12 mm glass with clear interlayers, providing transparency for terraces and internal voids while meeting structural safety demands. Spacer systems such as Multitech G are used within IGUs to improve edge stability and long-term durability.

Sustainability strategy is central to the development. The project retains and reuses significant portions of Portland stone and granite from the original structure, reducing embodied carbon while integrating seamlessly with the new façade system. This reuse strategy, combined with high-performance glazing, supports the project’s net-zero carbon objectives and aligns with circular construction principles.

The completed development will deliver approximately 67,500 m² of office-led space with retail and leisure components, multiple terraces, and a rooftop restaurant. Its location near St Paul’s Cathedral gives it direct visual connectivity to one of London’s most iconic heritage sites, reinforcing the façade’s emphasis on clarity and reflection control.