End of 2024 Construction Update – urbanest Canary Wharf

Located next to Billingsgate Market, urbanest Canary Wharf is steadily rising into the London skyline. This landmark development consists of three towers of 28, 36, and 46 storeys, connected by a four-storey podium. Once complete, it will provide 1,672 student beds, 68 homes, more than 4,000 square metres of commercial space, and 1,200 square metres of retail space. Among its many amenities, students will have access to a gym, yoga studio, cinema, study spaces, and games rooms – all situated within an elevated skybridge connecting the two student accommodation towers.

The mixed-use scheme is targeting BREEAM Outstanding certification and Passivhaus certification, making it Europe’s largest Passivhaus project, making it a global leader in sustainable design and energy efficiency.

“We’re very excited about the scheme’s sustainability credentials. Delivering the largest Passivhaus certified building in Europe is a massive undertaking and testament to our commitment to creating the sort of places and spaces that future generations want to live and work in.”
Anthony Mellalieu, Chief Operating Officer, urbanest

The image below represents a pre-development CGI of the scheme, and a progress photo – showing the incredible likeness, and the progress made so far.

Now, after five years of planning, design refinements, and construction, urbanest Canary Wharf is progressing rapidly. Earlier this year, Tower 1—the smallest of the three—was topped out, marking a key milestone for the development. Since then, significant progress has been made across all three towers.

The construction team has also made significant progress on the skybridge, which connects Towers 1 and 2 at the 10th floor, serving as a shared social and amenity space for students. Bathroom pods and bedroom installation has started, providing a glimpse into the high-quality accommodation that future residents can expect.

We are now over halfway through the project and steadily advancing towards welcoming our first cohort of UCL students in a few years’ time. As urbanest Canary Wharf continues to take shape, we look forward to sharing further updates!