The first Lloyds building was built on this site in 1928.  This was replaced in 1958 by a building nearby on Lime Street.  Another twenty years on and the Lime Street building was too small for the market's needs so the original 1928 bulding was demolished to make way for Rogers' spectacular inside-out building.

Rogers describes the design as, "a series of concentric galleries overlooking a central atrium, with each gallery capable of being used as part of the underwriting room, or as office space. The Room is housed on the lower four levels and all vertical movement within The Room is by a central escalator system, providing easy and open access to the first four levels."  He adds that, " The concept of ‘Served and Servant’ spaces , in which servant zones such as stairs, lifts, bathrooms and mechanical services stand freely in concentrated towers outside the mass of the building, created a highly expressive and legible structure."

On the outside the metalic stair towers, sevice ducting and glass lifts glisten in the sun.  Inside natural light enters the building through a huge 197ft high atrium.