1 Broadgate reaches new heights with ‘topping out’ ceremony

1 Broadgate celebrated this major milestone with a traditional topping out ceremony. 

The construction of the 1 Broadgate development in the City of London recently reached the completion of the highest point of the structure. This major milestone was celebrated with a topping out ceremony on Thursday, 25th April 2024, a practice symbolising good fortune and prosperity for the building's future.

Hosted by Sir Robert McAlpine, the topping out gathered key representatives from the Broadgate Joint Venture represented by British Land, supply chain partners and members of the project team, for a programme filled with tradition and celebration.

The ceremony started with a piper leading guests to Level 10 of 1 Broadgate, offering a spectacular view over the City and St Paul’s Cathedral. It then proceeded with the symbolic pouring of concrete to seal the building's structure and the nailing of an evergreen bough, a ritual to ensure the building's enduring success.

Simon Carter, CEO of British Land, David Lockyer, Head of Development at British Land and Pat Kelly, Works Manager at Sir Robert McAlpine, were each presented with an engraved tankard symbolising the craftsmanship, collaboration and dedication of all involved on the project.

1 Broadgate, the fifth scheme that Sir Robert McAlpine is delivering for the Broadgate Joint Venture under the existing framework, is a highly sustainable, landmark 14-storey mixed used building in the City of London, comprising 500,000 sq ft of offices to upper levels with 46,000 sq ft of retail beneath.

David Lockyer, Head of Development at British Land, commented: “1 Broadgate will deliver some of the highest quality, most sustainable mixed-use space in London, including best-in-class workspace, roof terraces and retail and leisure space. This milestone follows the recent pre-let agreement at Broadgate’s 2 Finsbury Avenue, and marks another important step in our delivery of Broadgate into a world class, well-connected, mixed use destination.”

Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director of Buildings, Sir Robert McAlpine, commented: "Today's ceremony is a celebration of the collaboration, dedication and expertise that has gone into reaching this stage of the project. It's an honour to be working alongside British Land to deliver a scheme that will stand as a beacon of architectural excellence. The topping out of 1 Broadgate is a proud moment for everyone at Sir Robert McAlpine. It showcases our commitment to delivering high-quality developments and our ability to overcome the complex challenges that come with such significant urban projects."

To view more photographs from the topping out ceremony, please see visit our Facebook album.