15 Canada Square

15 Canada Square
Interactive map of 15 Canada Square
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeCommercial offices
LocationCanary Wharf
London, E14
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′19″N 0°00′58″W / 51.505306°N 0.016028°W / 51.505306; -0.016028
OwnerKingboard Investors
Height227 feet (69 m)
Technical details
Floor count14
Floor area434,261 sq ft (40,344.2 m2)
Design and construction
ArchitectAdamson Associates
DeveloperCanary Wharf Contractors
Structural engineerWSP Cantor Seinuk
Main contractorCanary Wharf Contractors
References
[1][2][3]

15 Canada Square is a 14-storey, 227 feet (69 m) tall office building in the Canary Wharf financial estate of London, England owned by Kingboard Investors.

Overview

The building's main tenant is KPMG.[4] The building has 15 floors (including the roof) and 434,261 sq ft (40,344.2 m2) of office space.[2]

The underground car park has space for 200 bicycles and 40 cars.[5]

History

KPMG announced the purchase of the plot for the building in 2006,[6][7] after signing a 999-year leasehold for the land,[8] with construction beginning later that year. The exterior architects for the scheme were Kohn Pederson Fox and Adamsons Associates. The scheme cost £260 million in total.[9] The building was fitted out by ISG[10] and designed by SHCA.[11]

The building was completed in 2010[2] and opened by Queen Elizabeth II the same year.[12][13] The building was called the "greenest on the wharf" when it opened, being constructed using recycled materials and achieveing a BREEAM Excellent rating.[14]

In 2014, 40,000 bees were placed on the 15th floor roof of the building. The company installed a "Beecam" so staff could watch the bees.[15]

KPMG appointed Jones Lang LaSalle to begin seeking a buyer for the building in 2017[16] as part of a sale and lease-back deal.[17][18]

The building was initially due to be purchased by Malaysian fund board Tabung Haji, but their board later rescinded their offer in November.[19] Hong Kong-based Kingboard Investors (a subsidiary of Kingboard Holdings) then purchased the building from KPMG for £400 million in December.[20][21] KPMG signed a 25-year lease to stay in the building.[22][4]

In 2011,[23] 2018,[24] and 2024, over 100 KPMG employees abseiled down the side of the building during a charity event.[25]

References

  1. ^ "KPMG headquarters sold for £400m". Estates Gazette.
  2. ^ a b c "15 Canada Square - Building - London E14". www.buildington.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  3. ^ "KPMG Canary Wharf - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  4. ^ a b "KPMG to sell London headquarters for £400m and stake in Shenzhen property project". Institutional Real Estate, Inc. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  5. ^ "Accountants make green living add up". www.thetimes.com. 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  6. ^ Clark, Phil Clark Phil Clark Phil. "T&T on newly bought Canary Wharf office scheme". Building. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  7. ^ Rowe, Stephen (2006-11-06). "Canary Wharf secures presale of Canada Square block". Estates Gazette. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  8. ^ "KPMG to buy £260m Canada Square HQ". Property Week. 2006-11-06. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  9. ^ Reed, Kevin (2009-08-21). "KPMG lines up £260m office move in 2010". Accountancy Age. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  10. ^ alasdairreisner (2008-05-29). "KPMG HQ fit-out goes to ISG". Construction News. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  11. ^ Admin, Cms (2010-11-18). "KPMG unveils SHCA-designed HQ in London". FX Design. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  12. ^ "The Queen opens KPMG 15 Canada Square - one of the greenest buildings in the UK - KPMG Ukraine". KPMG. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  13. ^ Kennett, Stephen; Kennett, Stephen Kennett Stephen. "A comforting vision of L: KPMG in Canary Wharf". Building. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  14. ^ Beavis, Simon (2011-05-26). "KPMG - 'the greenest building on the wharf'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  15. ^ GabriellaGriffith (2014-05-29). "Canada Square welcomes 40,000 unusual residents". City AM. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  16. ^ FINANCIAL, The (2017-08-31). "KPMG to sell London HQ". FINCHANNEL. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  17. ^ "KPMG markets London HQ as office prices hit highs". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  18. ^ Reporter, A. Staff. "KPMG puts London HQ on the market". Real Assets. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  19. ^ "TH board cancels decision to buy KPMG HQ tower in London". The Malaysian Reserve. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  20. ^ Durkie, Anna (2017-12-18). "KPMG headquarters sold for £400m". Estates Gazette. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  21. ^ Crane, Helen (2017-12-18). "Kingboard snaps up KPMG HQ for £400m". Property Week. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  22. ^ Lee, Isobel. "KPMG sells 15 Canada Square to HK's Kingboard for €454m". Real Assets. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  23. ^ "KPMG employees abseil down 15 storeys for Barnardo's". London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com. 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  24. ^ "City workers abseil down Canary Wharf for the NSPCC children's charity". East London Advertiser. 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  25. ^ Inskip, Alice (2024-11-18). "KPMG Abseil Raises Over £100,000 For Marie Curie!". Big Bang Experiences. Retrieved 2025-10-02.