One Canada Square and Docklands Light Railway Station signal a new generation of transit-focused development

One Canada Square and Docklands Light Railway Station are at the center of Canary Wharf, an ambitious transit-focused development that shifted London’s financial center from the Square Mile to the site of a historic dockland east of the city center. This visionary placemaking project brought Londoners from cramped, disconnected city offices to state-of-the-art facilities linked to the public transit network. Since the early nineties, One Canada Square has remained vibrant and resilient through multiple economic recessions, political uncertainty, and massive shifts in technology. It was one of the first towers in Europe to incorporate North American planning principles with large and efficient open-floor plates. The tower’s future-proof design continues to serve iconic financial institutions, while adapting seamlessly for fintech companies, postgraduate higher-education organizations, and co-working spaces.

A thriving and connected neighborhood by day or night 

Docklands Light Railway Station ignited Canary Wharf’s growth by linking it to established public transit networks in London. The lobby of One Canada Square connects directly to Docklands Light Railway Station and an expansive retail building with shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and a public winter garden. The retail building is a popular destination for events and performances, with a portable stage and flexible seating, lighting, and audio systems. The station’s stainless steel and glass roof celebrates the dramatic vaulted spaces of London’s historic stations with a modern aesthetic that faces the future with confidence and joy.

Reflecting the modern ethos of a historic city 

One Canada Square is the tallest tower in Canary Wharf. The tower’s iconic obelisk form is an elegant square prism that culminates in a pyramidal crown. Clad in stainless steel panels with a soft linen finish, the tower reflects subtle changes in London’s famous grey skies and expresses warmth on even the darkest days. The tower’s striking inverted corners accentuate its form, so it appears taller and thinner than it is. These articulated corners also direct abundant natural light into the interior, all the way through to the inner ring of corridors at each level. From its inception in the early nineties to today, One Canada Square continues to be the epicenter of Canary Wharf, attracting top talent from London and around the world.

“The pyramidal form makes a three-dimensional building of what would otherwise be just folded planes. It also strengthens the axis mundi — the vertical line that goes through skyscrapers and connects heaven with Earth. This connection has been recognized in many cultures for several centuries now.” 
— César Pelli, FAIA, RIBA, JIA