55 Broadway, Art Deco office building in Westminster, England
55 Broadway is a modern Art Deco office building in Westminster, England, rising above St James's Park station with a cruciform layout and large windows. The structure reaches 53 meters in height and ensures natural light in all office spaces through its design, while also housing a shopping arcade at ground level.
Charles Holden designed this structure between 1927 and 1929 as headquarters for the Underground Electric Railways Company of London, the predecessor of London Underground. The construction marked an important moment in British architecture history, as it was the first tall building in London and set new standards for modern office structures.
The exterior shows carved representations of the Four Winds by several artists, including pieces by Jacob Epstein that sparked heated public debates after their unveiling. The bold figures follow the traditions of the 1920s and connect classical motifs with the modern formal language of that era.
Access is directly above St James's Park station, with several entrances from Broadway and Petty France leading into a shopping arcade at ground level. The central location makes it easy to reach using public transport, as the station serves several underground lines.
The foundation of this listed structure rests on 700 concrete piles and steel girders that span active railway lines, keeping it stable despite constant underground train movements. This engineering achievement allowed the construction of a tall building directly over a busy transport hub without disrupting railway operations.
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