Global Holdings Management Group appoints McLaren Construction to deliver Xylo, the UK's largest all-timber frame office building

Global Holdings Management Group, the international real estate and development company, has appointed McLaren Construction to deliver its 100,000 sq. ft Xylo building in Clerkenwell, which will be the UK’s largest all-timber frame office building.

• 100,000 sq. ft of high-quality workspace, over nine floors, with south-facing terraces, stunning entrance lobby, town hall, restaurant, rooftop garden and yoga deck, with outstanding views across London
• Located in Clerkenwell, it is a short walk from multiple Underground, Elizabeth Line, and National Rail stations
• Xylo will set a new benchmark for sustainable workplaces in London
• Completing Q2 2028

Centred around a 6.5m vaulted lobby, Xylo will provide nine floors of high-quality workspace all featuring beautifully crafted interiors using natural and sustainable materials throughout.

Xylo will also feature a 3,640 sq. ft townhall space with bar, lounge and auditorium space, a 3,800 sq. ft rooftop garden,5 landscaped terraces with uninterrupted views across London, a café/restaurant, as well as cycle parking and shower facilities.

Following the completion of enabling works, McLaren will now work alongside architects Piercy & Co, project manager Avison Young, services & sustainability engineers Max Fordham, and structural and civil engineers Heyne Tillett Steel, to deliver the project by Q2 2028.

Xylo represents a significant step-change in sustainability with everything from carbon-sequestering timber to carefully monitored deliveries to reduce overall emissions. The building is designed to achieve LETI Pioneer, NABERS UK 5.5-star and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certifications; taken together they represent a deep focus on building one of the most advanced environmentally sensitive building in the world. The embodied carbon levels will be 50% lower than a typical London office building and reduce operational carbon emissions by up to 82% compared to standard buildings.

The building’s glulam beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure are being supplied by Hybrid Structures, a William Hare Group company, and will store over 2,400 tonnes of CO₂.

Xylo’s modular, full timber-frame structure will bring significant benefits to occupiers, as it can be quickly and easily reconfigured over time to customise spaces adapting to changing business needs. This flexibility will allow Xylo to accommodate a wide range of uses allowing tenants to have everything from beautiful office space to wow-factor presentation rooms alongside staff breakout areas throughout the building.

End-of-trip facilities, a café, and high-quality cycle parking encourage active commuting and healthier daily routines. With energy-efficient systems, low-VOC materials and natural finishes throughout, Xylo aims to achieve some of the best indoor environmental quality metrics in the UK.

Located in Clerkenwell, one of London’s most vibrant creative districts, at the intersection with Bloomsbury, Farringdon, Holborn, and Kings Cross, Xylo benefits from excellent transport links with Farringdon station (Elizabeth Line, Thameslink, Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City Lines), Chancery Lane (Central Line) and Kings Cross St Pancras (Eurostar, National Rail, Circle, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City, Northern, Metropolitan and Victoria Lines) all within a short walking distance.

Josh Lawrence, Chief Executive of Global Holdings Management Group UK, said: 

“We are delighted to be working with McLaren to deliver Xylo – a game-changing project and significant milestone for our industry. Xylo is going to be the perfect building for companies that are leaders in their fields, showcasing the most environmentally friendly technologies in a truly beautiful building, underpinned by a vibrant neighbourhood and abundant transport links.”

Darren Gill, Managing Director for London & South at McLaren Construction, added:

“This is a pioneering use of structural timber and off-site manufacturing to deliver a high level of buildability and sustainability on a typically tight central London site. The result will be a landmark project that redefines what a sustainable, healthy workplace can be. Rigorous digital information management systems enable us to monitor carbon emissions as the project progresses and ensure that it comfortably meets its ambitious targets.”