Willis Building, Ipswich

The Willis Building (originally the Willis Faber & Dumas regional headquarters) in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, is one of the earliest buildings designed by Norman Foster and Wendy Cheesman after establishing Foster Associates.

[1] Constructed between 1970 and 1975 for the insurance firm now known as Willis Towers Watson, it is widely considered a landmark in the development of the 'high tech' architectural style.

The bulbous floor plan of the office block reflects the layout of the available site in the centre of Ipswich, which is sandwiched between several road junctions and the Grade I listed Unitarian Meeting House .

[3] The architectural firm of Norman Foster was selected after a shortlist was provided by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Foster's design, inspired by a glass-clad office building he had recently completed, featured innovative energy-conscious elements and open-plan floor spaces.

Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters, Ipswich , is an office building designed by Norman Foster and Michael Hopkins. It was one of Norman Foster's earliest commissions after founding Foster Associates .
Window support detail.