2 Windmill Lane

Following MOLA Architecture’s delivery of 1 Windmill Lane, the practice was commissioned to design and repurpose 2 Windmill Lane, conceived as the younger and more expressive counterpart to its larger neighbour. Formerly known as the Hanover Building, the existing five-storey structure was remodelled and extended as part of an ambitious adaptive reuse project to provide 9,300sqm of Grade A office accommodation over six levels, together with 1,100sqm of gym space at ground floor. The inclusion of the gym reflects a broader ambition for the Windmill Quarter to operate as a mixed-use campus that supports wellbeing and daily life.

As a refurbishment and reconfiguration project, the design required the complete removal of existing facades and a full upgrade of the building envelope. A new high-performance façade system was introduced, combining fully glazed and natural stone elements in a manner that complements the architectural language of 1WML while offering its own distinct identity. Additional floor area and increased structural spans provide flexible, large-scale office floorplates capable of supporting contemporary modes of working and future tenant change.

2WML sits alongside the SOBO Townhall at 1WML, a shared civic space that hosts events, performances and informal gatherings. Tenants of 2WML benefit from direct access to this amenity, as well as to the wider Windmill Quarter ecosystem of work, social and wellness facilities. The result is a dynamic and adaptable building that reinforces the Windmill Quarter as an adaptable and connected place to work within the Docklands.