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Portland House
Portland House
Portland House
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51°29′51.3″N 00°8′30.1″W / 51.497583°N 0.141694°W / 51.497583; -0.141694

Portland House, Central London

Portland House is a skyscraper in Westminster, London. It is 101 metres (331 ft) tall with 29 floors. The building was the central feature of the redevelopment of the six-acre (2.5-hectare) old Watney's Brewery site. The architects were Howard, Fairbairn & Partners, and the development took place from 1959 to 1963.[1] Pevsner notes that the architectural form of Portland House was influenced by the Pirelli Tower (1955–58) in Milan by architect Gio Ponti.[1] The development was known as Stag Place.[1] Today the site is Cardinal Place.

The building has two banks of lifts — the first serving the first up to the fifteenth floor, and the second the fifteenth floor upwards.

When first opened, Blue Circle Industries occupied floors 16–29, as well as the ground floor. Other firms that have at one point occupied Portland House for office space include American Express, Crossrail, HomeAway UK, Owners Direct, Direct Ferries Orbus Software, Increase the Wedge, NetBooster, Somo Global, TradeDoubler, Wunder2, uSwitch, Upmystreet.com, Reef Television, Rentokil Initial, AkzoNobel, Monica Vinader and IWG. The building also once contained the head offices of British United Airways.[2]

The building is a five-minute walk from London Victoria station (rail and tube) and a ten-minute walk from Victoria Coach Station. The surrounding area was redeveloped between 2003 and 2005,[3] with a new shopping and refreshments area called Cardinal Place. The building also has a gym in the basement.[4]

The building is part of the Cardinal Place Estate, which includes the shopping centre and development around the building. Retail establishments such as Marks & Spencer, Boots, Thorntons, Zara, Ha Ha Bar and Zizzi have taken retail space in the complex.

The ground floor has a portico arrangement of pillars which reflect the octagonal cross-section of the building.

The Portland House is substantially similar in design to the MetLife Building in New York City. The two buildings were under construction at the same time.

As of June 2021, the building is entirely vacant, with the ground floor behind hoardings, pending renovation by Land Securities.

There is another building called Portland House in London, located on 4 Great Portland Street, W1W 8QJ, Central London[5]

See also

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References

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Sources

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  • Bradley, Simon and Pevsner, Nikolaus (2003). The Buildings of England: London 6: Westminster. New Haven and London: Yale University Press Books. ISBN 0300095953.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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Portland House

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Portland House is a Brutalist-style office located in the Victoria area of Westminster, , standing at 101 metres (331 ft) tall and comprising 29 floors. Completed in 1963, it was designed by the Howard Fairbairn & Partners as the central feature of the Stag Place project, initiated by the City and Victoria Property Company to modernize the surrounding area near Victoria Station and . The building's design draws inspiration from mid-20th-century American architecture, particularly echoing the slab-like form and setback profile of New York City's , with its façade and imposing presence as one of the tallest structures in at the time of completion. Constructed between 1959 and 1963 by contractor & Sons, Portland House originally housed corporate offices, including headquarters for major firms like , and contributed to the post-war transformation of Victoria into a commercial hub. Its Brutalist aesthetic, characterized by raw elements and functional massing, has made it a notable example of 1960s British modernism, though it has faced criticism for its stark appearance amid more ornate Victorian surroundings. Owned by property developer since the early 2000s, Portland House underwent several proposed overhauls in the 2010s, including plans by Architects for residential conversion and extensions by and Snøhetta, before settling on a comprehensive refurbishment led by Buckley Gray Yeoman. This ongoing project, which began in 2023, aims to retrofit the tower for modern office use while enhancing —targeting a 60% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a new build and a NABERS 5-star energy rating—through measures like high-performance glazing, an extended ground-floor entrance, and optimized upper levels for panoramic views. The building was topped out in October 2024, with practical completion expected in early 2027 (as of November 2025). It has been renamed Thirty High to reflect its anticipated revitalized role in London's premium workspace market.

Location

Site and surroundings

Thirty High (formerly Portland House) is situated at 51.497583°N, 0.141694°W in the Westminster district of , within the bustling Victoria area. The building occupies part of the former Stag Brewery site, originally operated by Watney, Combe, Reid & Co., which encompassed a 6-acre (2.5-hectare) plot redeveloped as the Stag Place complex in the . It forms an integral element of the adjacent Cardinal Place mixed-use development, a pedestrian-friendly complex featuring covered arcades and ground-level retail outlets such as Marks & Spencer, Boots, and Zara, which enhance the area's commercial vibrancy and connectivity. The site lies approximately a 5-minute walk from and a 10-minute walk from Victoria Coach Station, positioning it amid a dense urban fabric of offices, transport hubs, and cultural landmarks like . Thirty High (formerly Portland House) benefits from excellent connectivity to London's transport network, primarily through its proximity to Victoria station, which provides a direct pedestrian link approximately 300 meters away, equivalent to a five-minute walk. This mainline station serves Southeastern, Southern, and train services, offering frequent connections to southeast England, , and beyond. The building is also adjacent to an Underground entrance on Bressenden Place, providing immediate access to the Victoria, District, and Circle lines, which facilitate rapid travel across central London and to outer zones. Multiple high-frequency bus routes operate from nearby Victoria bus station on Victoria Street, supporting local and regional journeys without capacity constraints for the area. Victoria Coach Station, handling national and international coach services, lies about a ten-minute walk away, enhancing long-distance travel options for occupants and visitors. The site's Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) of 6b—the highest rating—underscores this superior connectivity. Transport infrastructure in the surrounding Victoria area evolved significantly during the 2000s redevelopment, including the Victoria Transport Interchange (VTI2) project, which relocated bus stands and improved pedestrian routes to better integrate rail, Underground, and bus services amid growing commercial development.

History

Construction and early development

Portland House was developed as the centerpiece of the Stag Place project, a comprehensive urban redevelopment initiative in the Victoria area of Westminster, . The site, spanning approximately six acres, was previously occupied by the historic Watney's Stag Brewery, which had operated since the and was closed in 1959. Following its closure, the property was acquired by the City and Victoria Property Company for redevelopment, transforming the former industrial brewery lands into a modern commercial precinct. This project exemplified post-war efforts to renew Westminster's urban fabric, targeting areas affected by wartime bomb damage and obsolescent industrial uses to foster economic revitalization in . The planning and design phase of Portland House aligned with broader 1950s and 1960s strategies to modernize Victoria, a district undergoing significant post-war reconstruction to accommodate growing office demands and improve infrastructure. Intended primarily as a high-rise commercial office tower, the building aimed to anchor the Stag Place development, which included multiple structures to create a cohesive business hub near Victoria Station. The architectural firm Howard, Fairbairn & Partners was commissioned to lead the design, drawing on contemporary international influences to create a prominent landmark that would symbolize Victoria's transition from industrial past to a vibrant commercial future. Construction commenced in 1959 on the cleared brewery site, involving the demolition of existing structures and the erection of a 29-storey tower reaching 101 meters in height. The project progressed rapidly amid the era's enthusiasm for modernist high-rises, with the building reaching completion in 1963. This timeline reflected efficient coordination between developers, architects, and local authorities, enabling Portland House to open as a key component of Stag Place and contribute immediately to the area's economic rejuvenation by providing premium office space.

Later redevelopment

In the early 2000s, Land Securities acquired Portland House as part of its expansion in London's Victoria district, integrating it into its broader portfolio of commercial properties. Between 2003 and 2005, the building underwent redevelopment as part of the Cardinal Place project led by Land Securities, which involved constructing new office and retail spaces adjacent to the tower while extending portions of its ground floor for retail use and improving shared basement facilities. This integration added approximately 9,000 square meters of retail space and enhanced public realms around the site without modifying the tower's core structure, thereby boosting the area's appeal as a mixed-use commercial hub. By 2021, Portland House became vacant in anticipation of further refurbishment, remaining under Land Securities' management. In 2023, Land Securities initiated a comprehensive designed by Buckley Gray , focusing on modernizing the office interiors with features like a double-height reception, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a rooftop extension for amenities, while prioritizing sustainability through full electrification, air source heat pumps, and sourcing to achieve net-zero operations and 'Outstanding' certification. The project reached practical completion in the third quarter of 2025, upon which the building was renamed Thirty High; it preserves the building's Brutalist exterior and structural frame, delivering 300,000 square feet of high-quality Grade A workspace that supports Victoria's growing demand for flexible, eco-friendly offices and sustains the district's commercial vitality.

Architecture

Design influences

Portland House's design draws parallels with the in , completed in 1958 under the direction of and Alberto Rosselli, which exemplified sleek through its curtain-wall system and tapered silhouette that conveyed lightness and vertical aspiration. It also shares similarities with New York's (originally the Building), completed in 1963 to designs by , , and Emery Roth & Sons, particularly in its slab-like form optimized for high-density office use. Reflecting broader architectural currents, the original building integrated Brutalist elements—such as its cladding—with International Style principles of functional simplicity and curtain-wall transparency, emphasizing verticality to achieve maximum lettable space on a tightly constrained site amid Victoria's postwar redevelopment. Howard, Fairbairn & Partners, the architects responsible, pursued innovative high-rise strategies suited to London's compact urban fabric, resulting in the building's distinctive tapered, near-octagonal plan that enhances structural efficiency and visual dynamism.

Structural features

As originally constructed, Portland House stood at 101 meters (331 feet) in height and comprised 29 floors, making it a prominent mid-rise tower in London's Victoria district. Following the 2023–2025 refurbishment and renaming to Thirty High, the building now has 30 floors, including a new rooftop pavilion extension adding approximately 3.9 meters to the height (total around 105 meters), as of its practical completion in Q3 2025. The structure retains its reinforced concrete frame and precast concrete panels, now cleaned and revitalized, but features 1,800 new high-performance double-glazed windows replacing the original aluminum ones, maintaining a Brutalist aesthetic while improving energy efficiency—targeting a NABERS 5-star rating and a 60% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a new build. The tapered octagonal cross-section continues to contribute to aesthetic appeal and structural efficiency by distributing loads evenly and reducing wind loads. At ground level, the entrance has been extended into a new double-height reception with a two-storey addition along Bressenden Place, providing enhanced sheltered public access aligned with the building's and including public realm improvements like widened footways and paving. The floor plates, each exceeding 1,000 square meters, are refurbished for high-density office occupancy, with optimizations at upper levels (including removal of alternate piers at the crown for panoramic views) to maximize through the multi-faceted facade.

Refurbishment updates

The 2023–2025 refurbishment by Buckley Gray Yeoman, completed in Q3 2025, introduced sustainable architectural enhancements, such as the level 30 rooftop extension housing a and bar with roof terrace, two external lifts on the northern elevation, and overall measures achieving less than 400 kgCO₂/m² embodied carbon (per LETI B standards). These updates revitalize the structure for modern use while preserving its Brutalist character.

Tenants and usage

Historical occupants

Upon its opening in 1963 as part of the Stag Place redevelopment, Portland House served as an anchor for industrial firms, with , a major cement manufacturer, occupying significant space including its headquarters address there by the mid-1980s. Early tenants also included , which maintained its corporate headquarters at the building from the early 1960s until 1968, capitalizing on Victoria's proximity to key transport infrastructure like Victoria Station. In the mid- to late , the building's occupant profile evolved alongside Victoria's transformation from a transport-centric area to a prominent business district, attracting service-oriented enterprises. established a major presence in the , leasing over 93,500 square feet by 1999 to support its operations. This shift was evident in the move from industrial and aviation-related firms to , mirroring broader economic changes in the locale. By the 2000s, infrastructure projects further diversified the tenancy, with using pre-opening offices in Portland House starting around 2009. Throughout its history up to the early , the building functioned mainly as corporate , supplemented by modest retail at the ground level, highlighting the area's progression toward a service-sector economy dominated by professional and financial activities.

Current status

Thirty High (formerly Portland House) has remained entirely vacant since June 2021, following the departure of its last major tenants amid the shift to remote work accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The building is owned and managed by Land Securities (Landsec), which initiated a comprehensive refurbishment in early 2023 to modernize the structure for contemporary office use. The project, designed by Buckley Gray Yeoman and valued at approximately £380 million, includes a refurbished precast concrete facade, replacement of 1,800 windows with energy-efficient glazing, a new double-height reception, and a rooftop extension adding flexible workspace, amenity areas, and a public viewing platform. These upgrades aim to achieve net-zero carbon operations in both construction and operation, aligning with sustainability standards for high-rise offices. The building was renamed Thirty High as part of this revitalization effort. The vacancy reflects broader challenges in the commercial real estate market, where high-rise buildings in have faced reduced demand due to hybrid work models and economic pressures, prompting considerations for mixed-use conversions in similar properties. As of November 2025, the refurbishment is ongoing with practical completion expected in June 2026 and market launch thereafter, though has indicated no further speculative developments until tenant commitments are secured for this and similar projects.

References

  1. https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/london/portland-house/5051
  2. https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/buckley-gray-yeoman-wins-approval-for-latest-portland-house-plans
  3. https://www.buildington.co.uk/buildings/482/england/london-sw1e/bressenden-place/thirty-high
  4. https://nla.london/projects/thirty-high-portland-house
  5. https://www.building.co.uk/buildings/eight-towers-from-1963/5054058.article
  6. https://www.minube.net/place/portland-house-a2153314
  7. https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/gensler-and-snohetta-reveal-portland-house-extension-after-chipperfield-axed
  8. https://www.gensler.com/press-releases/green-light-for-genslers-extension-to-landsecs-portland
  9. https://landsec.com/media/press-releases/2023/landsec-commences-refurbishment-thirty-high-sw1-appointment-main
  10. https://www.ivdevelopment.co.uk/news/thirty-high-tops-out-on-the-london-skyline/
  11. https://landsec.com/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025%20Half%20Year%20Results%20Presentation.pdf
  12. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2305745
  13. https://westminster.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s34089/ITEM%2001%20-%20PORTLAND%20HOUSE%20BRESSENDEN%20PLACE%20LONDON%20SW1.pdf
  14. https://breweryhistory.com/wiki/index.php/The_Watney_Family
  15. https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/public%3A//public%3A//PAWS/media_id_201809///portland_house_report.pdf
  16. https://www.marksandspencer.com/stores/london-victoria-cardinal-place-3858
  17. https://www.boots.com/stores/775-london-victoria-cardinal-place-sw1e-5jh
  18. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/london-victoria/
  19. https://www.e-architect.com/london/victoria-transport-interchange
  20. https://www.mikehigginbottominterestingtimes.co.uk/2014/01/06/pan-ams-london-sibling/
  21. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/l/LSE_LAND_2003.pdf
  22. https://westminster.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s34089/ITEM%252001%2520-%2520PORTLAND%2520HOUSE%2520BRESSENDEN%2520PLACE%2520LONDON%2520SW1.pdf
  23. https://victorialondon.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/v3/landsec-at-portland-house?step=step1
  24. https://landsec.com/media/press-releases/2023/landsec-commences-refurbishment-portland-house-victoria
  25. https://www.panam.org/jet-age/air-rights-the-pan-am-building-2
  26. https://www.msasurvey.com/case-studies/portland-house
  27. https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/thirty-high/48091
  28. https://manchesterhistory.net/architecture/1960/portlandhouse.html
  29. http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/br/br6305/br6305.pdf
  30. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/l/LSE_LAND_1999.pdf
  31. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04212657/filing-history
  32. https://www.building.co.uk/news/mclaren-confirmed-for-130m-revamp-of-landsec-tower/5121592.article
  33. https://www.building.co.uk/news/landsec-wont-commit-to-new-london-office-work-until-tenants-sign-up-for-jobs-being-completed-next-year/5136042.article
  34. https://www.building.co.uk/news/landsec-to-reduce-capital-spending-to-just-200m-by-middle-of-next-year-as-firm-cuts-back-on-office-jobs/5139305.article
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