As a follow up to the recent surprising news that insurance giant Lloyd’s of London may be considering a potential exit from the award-winning Lime Street headquarters designed for them by late architect Richard Rogers in the late 1970s (opened in 1986), The Architect’s Journal UK is now reporting that the company has also paused previously announced plans to overhaul a major portion of the building in what could be a sign about the future status of its lifelong tenant. 

The all-important Underwriting Room within Lloyd’s was supposed to be the subject of the planned fixes, although now plans are being revisited, according to a spokesperson for the company1.

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• 1. “Taking this time will give us a stronger grasp on the working practices of our market participants and Corporation employees,” one spokesperson told AJ, adding that the company is still “considering a range of options around our workspace strategy and the future leasing arrangements.” Lloyd’s has so far been very public about its plans for a return to the office, joining Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions in the forefront of thinking about the future of office spaces under the direction of CEO John Neal. “Our next chapter must build on our rich heritage, while creating a unique experience that provides flexibility, supports growth, attracts new talent, and enables all market participants to trade and collaborate,” he said.