Solar Shading Node Heritage Restoration at 1 Finsbury Avenue
1 Finsbury Avenue (1FA) is a Grade II listed building, originally designed in the early 1980s by Peter Foggo of Arup Associates. As the first building on the Broadgate campus, it redefined speculative office design in the deregulated City.
Thirty years later, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) was commissioned by British Land to refurbish this landmark as part of the wider Broadgate redevelopment. While neighbouring 2–3 Finsbury Avenue shared similar cladding details, they were not considered significant in heritage terms and were scheduled for demolition.
Salvage
During demolition, AHMM collaborated with Sir Robert McAlpine and British Land to carefully extract and preserve several cladding nodes. These nodes are integral to the system of projecting solar shades and walkways connected to diagonal braces—features that give 1FA its distinctive architectural character.
Restoration
PAD Contracts, a trusted supplier for the Broadgate Framework, had recently completed a series of bespoke architectural metalwork elements for the 1 Broadgate office and retail scheme. Building on this successful collaboration, AHMM approached PAD to restore one of the salvaged nodes for display in their studio.
The node, approximately 800 x 800 mm, comprised four 150 x 150 mm cruciform extrusions and four 30 mm diameter threaded rods. Although intact, the node had uneven lengths and sharp cut edges from the salvage process. PAD undertook precision tooling to square off the cruciform edges, creating a sleek, closed finish. All rods were cut to uniform length, and their ends were machined to reveal contrasting internal aluminium against the dark anodized finish. Each component was carefully cleaned and polished to enhance the original anodizing.
AHMM’s model shop mounted the restored node on a birch ply frame with explanatory plaques, creating a striking display piece that celebrates a key Peter Foggo detail from the original building.
Result & Client Satisfaction
The finished piece is a symmetrical, fully assembled artefact that honours 1FA’s heritage and will be appreciated by AHMM staff and visitors alike. PAD Contracts was credited on the display plaque alongside Sir Robert McAlpine for their role in the salvage and restoration.
For AHMM, the restored node represents more than a technical achievement; it symbolises a full circle in the practice’s 37-year history. Shortly after 1FA’s completion, AHMM’s founding directors—Simon, Jonathan, Paul, and Peter—interviewed Foggo for their Bartlett thesis, The Fifth Man. Decades later, they were delighted to see this iconic detail preserved and celebrated within their own studio.
For PAD Contracts, this was a unique and rewarding project. Managing Director Colin Ayres commented:
“Sometimes we are asked to do things without fully realising the big back story. Now we fully understand. A real piece of modern architectural history and metal craftsmanship. It’s been a pleasure working with AHMM once again and we look forward to future collaborations.”
View our work at 1 Broadgate here: https://www.padcontracts.co.uk/projects/one-broadgate-liverpool-street/
Project Details
Address: 1 Finsbury Avenue
Architect: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM)
Description: Heritage solar-shading node from 1 Finsbury Avenue meticulously salvaged, restored and displayed, celebrating the building’s modernist legacy and PAD Contracts’ architectural metalwork craftsmanship.
For more information on our architectural metalwork, fabrication and installation services, contact us today.