“Our purpose,” says Georgina Pater-Bell, director of UK real estate and workplace for global property investment firm JLL, “is to shape the future of real estate for a better world.”
Every aspect of JLL’s work is aimed toward climate change and at delivering lasting social impact, as well as supporting well-being and responsible growth. Its own research has also shown that upgrading assets to higher sustainability standards increases the rate of leasing, as well as the rental premium. To put these values into practice, the company is in the process of designing a new flagship office that will be a living example of what low-carbon, people-first design can achieve.
1 Broadgate is poised for an autumn 2026 opening. It’s set across three floors in a new building in the heart of the City of London. In partnership with British Land, the flagship office will also give JLL the opportunity to demonstrate its steadfast commitment to responsible development. “We need to show our clients that we’re walking the walk and inspire them to share our vision,” Pater-Bell says.
From the start, JLL formed a multidisciplinary project team, including internal and external stakeholders, to ensure the workplace would reflect the broad spectrum of JLL’s know-how and perspectives. Importantly, sustainability is embedded as a foundation for the project. The new office will strive to achieve both BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum certifications—some of the highest benchmarks in sustainable and healthy building design.
To achieve this, JLL is first focusing on reducing the amount of carbon associated with materials and construction. “This is a key area for us,” says Pater-Bell. “We set a target at the outset to reduce embodied carbon by 50% against JLL’s established baseline.” Embracing circular economy principles, the team partnered across the industry to source reused materials—everything from furniture to ceiling panels, flooring, and cable trays. Smart planning played a critical role, too; early design decisions, like minimizing ductwork, significantly lowered the project’s carbon footprint. The office is also designed for disassembly, making it easier to repurpose materials during future renovations or moves.
The second piece of the puzzle is reducing operational carbon. Targeting net zero in operation, JLL’s space will be all-electric. It’s implementing a range of strategies—from consolidating display screens to investing in smart systems that monitor and optimize energy use—maximizing efficiency without compromising comfort or performance.
“One of the other takeaways has been the lessons learned,” says Pater-Bell. “Efficiency matters, but so do employee and client experience—and budget.” The challenge was finding the right balance: creating a workplace that’s energy-conscious, yet welcoming and engaging. To achieve this balance, the design focuses on the people who will use the space, emphasizing flexibility, accessibility, and well-being to foster an environment where employees can thrive and be themselves.
The layout encourages movement and interaction, providing spaces for collaboration as well as focused work. Natural light will flood the interior; air quality will be carefully managed; and biophilic design principles—incorporating natural materials and greenery—will help connect colleagues to nature. There are dedicated quiet zones, wellness areas, and even a “Recharge Room” for rest and reflection. From all-gender restrooms to neurodiverse-friendly spaces and universal signage, JLL is making sure everyone feels supported and welcomed.
From its flagship, JLL will pilot new ideas, technologies, and ways of working, collecting data and insights that can be shared with clients and applied to future projects. More than a workplace and showcase of sustainable design, 1 Broadgate will support the company’s ambition to grow responsibly, using its own experiences to lead by example. “We will have clients from almost every sector coming into this space,” says Pater-Bell, “so we’ve got lots of opportunities to knowledge-share.”
Whether it’s exploring the latest in smart building tech, testing circular economy principles and material passporting, or evaluating well-being interventions, 1 Broadgate will continuously evolve. It stands as a bold investment in the future—not just for the company, but for the broader real estate, design, and construction industries working to lead with purpose and impact.
