2 Finsbury Avenue (2FA) in London is targeting Net Zero Carbon in Construction, addressing both operational and embodied carbon. Developed by British Land with GIC and Modon, and designed by 3XN Architects (Denmark) with Adamson Associates as Executive Architect, the 100,000 m² development comprises 23- and 38-storey towers, reaching 101 m and 156 m, connected by a 12-storey podium.
Located beside Liverpool Street Station, the project was constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine, with Ramboll responsible for structural and MEP engineering and Focchi Group delivering the glass façade.
A pre-demolition audit enabled significant material recovery. 98 steel beams were approved for reuse, approximately 2,500 m³ of concrete was crushed and incorporated into the foundations, and 9,500 m² of floor tiles were retained for future reuse. Around 100 tonnes of steel were incorporated into the new frame, while sections of the former aluminium façade were repurposed for the cycle ramp. These measures helped reduce embodied carbon from 755 kg CO₂e/m² to approximately 647 kg CO₂e/m².
The façade features a distinctive three-dimensional sawtooth geometry, with diagonal gold sand-coloured aluminium bands forming faceted triangular surfaces. The geometry was designed to maximise daylight while controlling afternoon solar gains. 
The insulating glass units, manufactured by AGC Interpane Architectural Glass, incorporate Stopray 52/27 solar-control glass, iplus 1.1 low-emissivity glass and laminated safety-glass configurations. The main specification includes an 18 mm argon-filled cavity with Super Spacer® T-Spacer™ SG from Edgetech Europe/Quanex, achieving approximately 50% light transmission, a g-value of 25% and Ug of 1.0 W/(m²K).
For the large-format structural glazing, the T-Spacer™ SG provides enlarged contact surfaces for a robust PIB primary seal, supporting long-term gas retention and durability despite wind loads, temperature fluctuations and pressure changes.
The project at 2 Finsbury Ave, London EC2M 2PA, UK, is also targeting BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum and a 5-star NABERS rating.
Source: Focchi with additional information added by Glass Balkan
