Century House, London


Century House, London is a 22-storey building located at 100 Westminster Bridge Road in London. The building was designed by P. M. Devereux and constructed between 1959 and 1964. It became the home of the Secret Intelligence Service following their move from 54 Broadway in 1964: the location of their headquarters was classified information, though the Daily Telegraph reported that it was "London's worst-kept secret, known only to every taxi driver, tourist guide and KGB agent".
Century House was described as "irredeemably insecure" in a 1985 National Audit Office report with security concerns raised in a survey; the building was made largely of glass, and had a petrol station at its base. The Secret Intelligence Service moved to Vauxhall Cross in 1994. The building was refurbished and converted into the residential Perspective Building, designed by Assael Architecture in 2001.