Mace Construct completes 30 Duke Street St James’s, a landmark 68,000 sq ft commercial development

Mace Construct completes landmark 30 Duke Street St James's for GPE, setting a new benchmark for circular construction.

Mace Construct has completed the UK's largest steel reuse project for a commercial office, demonstrating how sustainable construction can be delivered at scale in the heart of London.

The 68,000 sq ft, fully electric workplace transforms the former French Railways House and 48-50 Jermyn Street into a fully electric, high-quality office and retail destination, combining contemporary workspace with an ambitious programme of material retention and reuse.

More than 78% of the building's structural steel has been sourced from reclaimed material, including steel recovered from within GPE's portfolio, making the development the largest commercial steel reuse project in the UK. The approach has saved approximately 744 tonnes of embodied carbon, setting a new benchmark for low-carbon commercial development, and demonstrating what can be achieved when sustainability ambitions are embedded from the outset and supported by close collaboration between client, contractor, design team and supply chain.

The project introduced several industry-leading innovations, including the use of Hydro CIRCAL 100R aluminium, marking the first UK commercial development to utilise the material, alongside ORAÉ™ glass manufactured from 100% recycled content. 

The circular strategy extended throughout the building, with reclaimed Portland stone, marble, raised access flooring and the historic French Railways House mosaic all retained and reused as part of the completed development.

Ged Simmonds, Managing Director for Commercial, Mace Construct, said:

"30 Duke Street St James's shows what's possible when sustainability ambitions are embedded from the very beginning of a project. Working in close partnership with GPE and our supply chain, we've delivered a building that not only provides exceptional workspace in one of London's most prestigious locations, but also demonstrates how circular construction can be delivered at scale.

"As the UK's largest steel reuse commercial office project, it provides a practical example of how the industry can significantly reduce embodied carbon while creating high-quality, future-ready workplaces."