Once seen as unconventional, the practice of retrofit is now a mainstream market alternative to development, particularly in London and across the UK. However, the industry could go one step further to recognising its significance.

Fuelled by the net zero transition and supported by the UK’s 2050 emissions target and rising regulatory pressures, retrofit’s long-term success relies on contributions from both sides of the development equation. Developers must create commercially viable, low-carbon buildings, while occupiers and investors must commit through sustainable leasing and funding decisions.

Post pandemic we have borne witness to a steady decline in office demand due to changing needs of the workforce. As a result, the tools and techniques to give obsolete buildings a new lease of life are essential.

Retrofitting can reshape an area’s fortunes, particularly in an evolving district. However, the ‘bones’ of a building is what separates good from bad. If the building has bad bones, developers need to consider alternative solutions.

Our project, 17 Columbus Courtyard in Canary Wharf is a prime example of this, achieved by using the structural ‘good bones’ of a former office development and transforming it into a state-of-the-art urban science building. Our approach has reduced embodied carbon, overcome structural and design challenges on a tight urban site, and will deliver flexible, sustainable lab and office space.

17 Columbus Courtyard shows us how adaptive reuse and sustainable design can reshape the built environment. Crucially, as Canary Wharf evolves, it illustrates the adaptability and commercial potential of an area previously known for offering other services by applying retrofit to its older building stock.

Although retrofit projects require upfront investment, they often prove more cost-effective over time and the most resource-efficient path to decarbonising the built environment, due to shorter construction timelines that minimise downtime and reduce revenue loss and prioritising upgrades over demolition. They also have powers to develop an area’s appeal, offering new services and amenities.

In today’s commercial property landscape, where prime locations and premium space are highly sought after and carbon savings a necessary credential, the question is not where to build, since there is an abundance of existing stock in ideal locations; it’s how we can enhance these to the desired calibre to remain viable.

With this mind, our recent participation in the production of Opportunity London and Gensler’s definitive guide, Retrofit at Scale, details how the industry can unlock retrofit at scale, creating a more sustainable urban environment in London and across the UK.

If the industry is to fully adopt adaptive reuse, precautions against ‘greenwashing’ and ‘green gentrification’ must also be evaluated to prevent superficial upgrades and a sole focus on EPC ratings and ticking BREEAM boxes. Instead, encouraging full transparency on retrofit’s ability will help to achieve truly sustainable urban development and reduce the barriers to entry.

While we would recommend that adaptive reuse is often the most sustainable and cost-effective approach, it’s not universally applicable. Should there be weak building fundamentals or increased plot ratios that permit additional storeys, the case for retrofit diminishes.

Our retrofit strategy has evolved from isolated technical upgrades to holistic, lifecycle-led planning. We’ve learned the value of early contractor engagement, embraced tools like BIM and 3D scanning to improve feasibility, and adopted data-led decision-making, using thermal imaging, air quality tracking, and occupancy analytics to guide designs. Experience has taught us that a truly successful retrofit demands early and sustained alignment between commercial objectives, design intent, and operational performance.

Shifting to a more forensic, evidence-based approach has been instrumental in raising the standard – and ambition – of what’s possible in retrofit delivery. With the right incentives from governing bodies, we believe retrofit can become the default practice, without the risk of creating stranded assets.