Lloyd’s Register (LR), the global maritime professional services group, has returned to its original London headquarters at 71 Fenchurch Street.

The move is a significant moment in its 265-year history with the return to its iconic Grade II* listed headquarters, now officially renamed the Lloyd’s Register Building.

Designed by renowned architect Thomas Collcutt and first opened in 1901, the building was purpose-built to house LR at a time when the organisation was expanding its global reach and influence.

Following a comprehensive refurbishment, the building will once again serve as the London headquarters for Lloyd’s Register Group and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, offering a modernised workspace for staff, clients and partners, while celebrating its architectural heritage.

The Lloyd’s Register Building will again be accessed via the original wrought iron gates at 71 Fenchurch Street. A pair of 19th century sculpted speckled grey marble lions, a gift from LR’s first surveyor appointed to Genoa in 1872, guards the entrance hall. The 5th floor, originally a shooting range and later a staff canteen, is now a versatile event space called ‘The Bridge’.

The relocation also marks the sale of the adjacent Rogers Building at 70 Fenchurch Street, a site which has been part of LR’s London headquarters for the past 25 years. Designed by the late Richard Rogers, it was awarded the World Architecture Award for Best Commercial Building in 2002.

Nick Brown, CEO of LR, said: “This is more than an office move, it’s a homecoming.

“LR has a long and important history associated with the Lloyd’s Register Building and we are delighted to be returning to it as our London headquarters. This move reconnects the organisation with its historic foundations and reflects both our rich history and our ongoing commitment to innovation, excellence and collaboration.”

The move reinforces LR’s long-standing association with the City of London, where it was established at Edward Lloyd’s coffee house in 1760. Over a century later, the Collcutt building was built in recognition of the organisation’s global aspirations and its commitment to enhancing safety worldwide.

In the decades following the completion of the Collcutt Building in 1901, LR acquired six adjacent office buildings to support its expanding operations over the following 90 years. Richard Rogers reimagined the site with a substantial new glass building opened in 2000 to support the original Collcutt building with modern office space. The two buildings have now been separated to operate as stand-alone properties once again.

The building is also home to Lloyd’s Register Foundation, an independent global safety charity that supports research, innovation and education to make the world a safer place. The Foundation plans to use the space to bring together safety-focused experts and stakeholders to share knowledge and insights and generate ideas on how to tackle some of the world’s most pressing safety challenges, welcoming thought leaders, practitioners and partners from across the maritime and engineering sectors.

Ruth Boumphrey, Chief Executive of Lloyd’s Register Foundation said: “We’re delighted to be moving back into our historic home and starting the next chapter of our exciting journey. In addition to office space for our teams, we plan to turn our building into a destination for those who share our vision of a safer world – a hub for safety, for evidence and insight, and for maritime innovation and history, providing a space and a platform for those that want to work together to solve some of the biggest safety challenges.”
Source: Lloyd’s Register