Brewing green
Built for the iconic Lipton family in 1931, the Tea Building was used for smoking bacon in the 50s, then for packing tea. Today it is an ‘Ideas Factory’ of creative industry – a blitz-surviving flagship of East London’s new economy.
📍Location
🏢Building Details
280,000 sq ft., 8-storeys
Light touch refurbishment of 1931 warehouse
Reconfigurable + affordable office space, galleries and eateries
👷🏾♀️Developer & Contractor
Rich Oliver – Former Senior Asset Manager @ Derwent London
✍️Architects & Engineers
Simon Allford – Founding Director @ AHMM
Philip Levack – Former Architect @ AHMM
James Santer – Director @ AHMM
Timothy Neville-Lee – Associate @ AHMM
Lizi Cushen – Former Associate @ AHMM
Alan Tovey – Partner @ Jackson Coles
🌱Sustainability
EPC B + light touch reinvention of previously redundant building
Set of low-cost spaces designed to be easily reconfigured to meet evolving tenant needs
Window upgrade: single-glazed replaced with new Crittall-style double-glazed – with solar thermal film + opening vents for cross ventilation
Enhanced lighting: all lamps replaced with high-efficiency PIR bulbs (Passive Infrared Sensor) – automatically switch off during peak daylight + zero occupancy
High efficiency rooftop heat exchanger for complete energy sharing: provides a hot + cold water thermal loop through the building for heating or cooling of any unit
🥦 Wellbeing
Common spaces are generous, hard-wearing, uncomplicated – a cobbled reception provides a central hub with breakout spaces and in-house barista
Spaces defined by artwork: multiple galleries including Rocket Gallery; art displayed daily and rotated every 3 months
5th and 6th floors home to Soho House members’ club – equipped with gym and rooftop swimming pool
24 hour onsite commissionaire
🎈Bonus feature
The ground floor is home to Michelin-starred Lyle’s Restaurant – #33 in the world’s best 50 restaurants. Stripped back, seasonal, modern British cuisine, with one Google review stating: "My partner even cried whilst eating the main dish… it was incredibly amazing!"
🔗 Check it out https://www.ahmm.co.uk/projects/office/tea-building/
