Unilever has officially opened Sunlight House, its new 200,000 sq. ft headquarters in Kingston-Upon-Thames, with The Rt Hon Sir Ed Davey MP attending the launch.
The multi-million-pound campus will bring together 1,200 employees from Unilever’s global and UK teams and marks the culmination of six years of design and construction.
The building reflects Unilever’s history and its future ambitions. Named after the company’s origins in Port Sunlight, it has been designed to showcase its well-known brands, including Dove, Sure, Vaseline, Persil, Cif, Domestos, TRESemmé, Hellmann’s and Marmite.
The workplace includes home-style kitchens and bathrooms to support product testing and content creation, alongside a 250-seat auditorium, gym, exercise studio, hair salon, market hall restaurant and staff shop.
Sustainability is central to the project. The campus uses reused and low-carbon materials, refurbished furniture and finishes made from recycled textiles. Its steel structure alone delivers 100 tonnes of embodied carbon savings, while solar panels, rainwater harvesting and efficient water systems help the building use 40 per cent less water than comparable offices.
Accessibility and inclusion were also key design priorities. Every workstation is wheelchair accessible, and the building includes accessible tea points, controls, colour-contrast features and easy-grip fittings. Flexible spaces have been created to support different working styles and neurodivergent needs.
The campus also connects strongly with Kingston. Public art includes Flow by Clarke + Scholes, inspired by the Thames and the town’s fishing heritage, plus a visual map by Ian Wornast and work created with local students. The project was delivered with Perkins & Will, Overbury and Mace Consult, and is targeting Platinum LEED, Platinum WELL and an EPC A rating.
Sir Ed Davey said: “The new Kingston Campus is a fantastic investment in our borough, bringing high-quality jobs, supporting local businesses and reinforcing Kingston’s reputation as a vibrant hub for innovation and growth.”
Alice Taylor, Unilever’s Head of HR for the UK and Ireland, said the opening marks “an exciting new chapter” and underlines the company’s long-term commitment to Kingston.
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