Lexicon, London
In March 2017, construction of Lexicon was complete, a new residential high-rise development in North London.
Located on the west side of City Road Basin, the 117 m building, with 36-storeys, is Islington’s tallest building. The project also includes a pair of low-rise canal-side apartment buildings set around a landscaped public courtyard. It was designed by Squire and Partners and delivered by Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM).
The 26,700 sq. m project was first approved by Islington Council in 2006, and provides more than 300 apartments, of which 35% are ‘affordable’. The public spaces are enhanced by ground floor retail and restaurant spaces which extend onto the waterside.
In terms of architectural design, the tower features an innovative curtain wall with glass channels set within a ventilated cavity. Unimpeded views over the city are provided by the facade, while full-width terraces line the tower’s upper levels. Apartments in the low-rise development have balconies that offer views over the City Road Basin water.
Content and images courtesy Squire & Partners.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.
Level 6 Design, Construction and Management BSc
CIOB launches first-ever degree programme to develop the next generation of construction leaders.
Open for business as of April, with its 2026 prospectus and new pipeline of housing schemes.
The operational value of workforce health
Keeping projects moving. Incorporating unplanned absence and the importance of health, in operations.
A carbon case for indigenous slate
UK slate can offer clear embodied carbon advantages.
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.





















