Arbor, Bankside Yards
In 2023, Native Land brought to market Arbor, a Grade A office building that forms part of their Bankside Yards scheme—the UK’s first fossil fuel-free mixed-use development.
Arbor offers 223,000 sq ft of best-in-class office space across 18 floors, featuring high ceilings, expansive windows, and open-air terraces that promote collaborative, flexible, and human-centric workspaces.
The building was designed with impressive credentials, achieving BREEAM Excellent and WELL Platinum. The EPC A rated development is powered by renewable energy and has been Carbon Net Zero since day one.
Arbor delivers a modern, sustainable, and vibrant workplace to Blackfriars, seamlessly connecting work life with the heart of London’s cultural scene—including the Tate Modern, National Theatre, and South Bank destinations.
SAS International were invited by PLP Architecture to contribute to the ceiling design, with SAS330 rafts specified throughout several floors. Chosen for their adaptable design and seamless integration with lighting and building services, over 3,500sqm of SAS330 rafts were supplied by SAS, enhancing both the building’s aesthetic and acoustic performance
Working alongside PLP Architecture and Stiff + Trevillion, SAS delivered the bespoke soffit, showcasing modified SAS330 to create the sloping coffered architecture. Within the bespoke coffers, mesh has been positioned to taper away from the lighting, providing a gentle gradient of light across each panel. The warm white lights work harmoniously with the mesh to deliver a golden glow both internally and externally.
Within the reception zone, the soffit provides Class A acoustic absorption. While externally, the canopy was designed to withstand environmental conditions and is finished with PPC to corrosion classification C4.
Arbor offers a bold and welcoming presence to both visitors and passers-by. The reception features a striking raking soffit, designed, manufactured, and installed by SAS. This bespoke ceiling sweeps across the double-height atrium, complementing the showpiece escalator and extending through the façade into the urban realm. Externally, the canopy blends seamlessly with the existing Victorian arches.
Working with principal contractor, Multiplex, SAS undertook the turnkey provision of the soffit. The complex geometry required extensive planning, design and coordination.
Native Land are dedicated to bringing transformative change south of the river. The mixed-use regenerative scheme delivers Arbor as a standout office destination. SAS are proud to be affiliated with and to have contributed to this outstanding project.
Sector:
Commercial
Client :
Native Land
Architect:
PLP Architecture & Stiff + Trevillion
Main Contractor :
Multiplex
Project Manager :
Gardiner & Theobald
Completion Year :
2023
System Type:
Bespoke SAS330, SAS330 Rafts, Mesh
Region :
London, United Kingdom
