Metropolis, Marylebone

Metropolis, Marylebone

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  • location

    1 Harewood Av, London NW1 6JQ

  • client

    General Projects, Henderson Park

  • total area

    16,000 m²

  • system

    CAM—V

  • completion

    2025

A building that bridges eras

Completed in 1959 as Woolworth’s UK Headquarters, Metropolis has stood for decades as a symbol of post-war ambition and London’s commercial optimism. Located in the heart of Marylebone, the building was designed in an era that sought to build upward, with confidence and scale.

Today, after a comprehensive redevelopment led by General Projects, Henderson Park, and AHMM, Metropolis is stepping confidently into its next life. The project preserves the past while redefining what a contemporary workplace can be.

A New Chapter for Metropolis

Metropolis is a story of transformation over replacement, driven by architectural integrity, sustainability and a commitment to wellbeing. Its redevelopment unlocks the building for the neighbourhood and its future occupants.

Key Features

— A reconfigured arrival sequence opens the building to the surrounding streets.
— A newly formed atrium that brings natural light deep into the floorplates.
— Nearly 2,000 m² of landscaped terraces, creating moments for fresh air and connection.
— Generous, flexible floorplates designed to adapt to modern teams.
— Interiors shaped by biophilic principles, natural finishes and acoustic softness.
— Premium end-of-journey facilities supporting health, comfort and movement.

Sustainable, design-led work

— 93% of the existing structure retained.
— Over 4,500 tonnes of CO₂e saved through reuse instead of demolition.
— Powered by 100% renewable REGO-certified energy.
— A sensitive reinvention behind the original brick and Portland stone façade.
— A new seven-storey CLT extension clad in glazed terracotta, echoing the character of Marylebone.

AET Role

AET Flexible Space was selected to support Metropolis’s vision for a high-performance, low-carbon workspace through the deployment of our underfloor air conditioning (UfAC) system.

Our brief supported the building’s core sustainability strategy: to reuse the existing structure, maximise ceiling heights, and enhance workplace comfort without compromising design purity.

AET Contributions include

UfAC offered the ideal solution for a building rooted in reuse, minimising service distribution, reducing embodied carbon, and providing long-term adaptability.

AET has installed 72 CAM—V units and 906 TU3 Fantiles™, operating within a 200mm floor void with a CHW/LPHW coil system. The installation also includes bespoke architectural grilles in the reception area. Our UfAC setup delivers efficient air distribution, individual zone control, and maximum design flexibility while keeping services out of the ceiling zone.

Out teams are now undertaking CAT—B commissioning for incoming tenants.

Project partners

Developer — General Projects, Henderson Park
Architect — Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM)
Main Contractor — ISG, McLaren Construction
MEP Consultant — chapmanbdsp
M&E Contractor — EFS

Related awards & accreditations

  • BREEAM “Outstanding” rating

  • EPC A rating

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