But once past the security gate, and thanks to the proud enthusiasm of the station's immaculately dressed managing director Barnaby Dawe, it is clear that this is one of the UK's most dynamic media houses.
'Let's go up to the studio and see Jamie and Harriet,' says Dawe, referring to the co-hosts of Heart's breakfast show, Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott.
On the journey upstairs, he is talkative and funny, covering subjects from how early he starts work - about 8am - to what he thinks of Heart's location. Apparently, it's great - but then Dawe's former employer, BSkyB, was based on the outskirts of London.
Not only was Dawe buried out in the suburbs, Sky also happens to frown on self-publicity - which made it somewhat surprising when he was included (at number 98) in this year's Independent on Sunday list of the most influential gay men and women, the Pink List. Dawe, it seems, was on the Indy's radar after being interviewed by the gay press.
Two months into his role at Heart, he is loving it. 'It's uplifting, fun and friendly here,' he says. In the vibrant breakfast show studio, he shows no sign that it is still so early most people are just reaching for their first coffee. 'Barnsey', as Theakston calls him, still manages to look dignified as he claps and jokes along with the team.
This week Heart pulled ahead of London rivals Capital and Magic in audience numbers, but Dawe, 35, says there is still much to do. 'Heart is 10 years old and my brief is to take it into the next decade,' he says. 'Radio needs to repackage itself, and we need to look beyond spot ads by creating more partnerships and doing more to help advertisers. I am looking at elements such as our digital offerings and how we can exploit things such as podcasts.'
Dawe was educated at the elite Westminster School and then studied French and Russian at Bristol University. His career began in financial publishing and at 23 he was part of a management buy-out of Investor Relations. He then set up Cross-Border Publishing with two colleagues, taking charge of the company's marketing and operations.
Although he stayed on the board for some time, Dawe left in 1998 to pursue a career in television. At 28, he found himself doing work experience at Channel 4, where he was quickly recruited by the publicity department.
He worked on the launch of several famous series, including Sex in the City and the controversial Queer as Folk.
Not long after joining Channel 4, Dawe popped his head around the office door of marketing chief Polly Cochrane and offered his services. Impressed by his experience and obvious enthusiasm, she snapped him up, and is not surprised that just seven years later, he is managing director of Heart. 'He has an enormous amount of energy and is eager to take on responsibility,' she says.
In 2000, Dawe left Channel 4 for Open Interactive TV as head of marketing.
His move coincided with Sky taking full ownership of the company, and he was offered a role as head of marketing at the broadcaster. Dawn Airey's arrival as managing director of Sky Networks in 2003 led to him being made director of marketing of Sky Networks, with a brief to build the channel brands. He worked on the launch of Sky's three music channels and launched shows including Nip/Tuck and 24 for Sky One.
Former colleagues and associates say Dawe is charming, ambitious and a good strategic thinker. They also say his new job is perfect for him, as he loves music. Dawe himself says the gravitas of his new job has meant he has hung up his clubbing shoes. Indeed, even though the station's shows are piped into the building all day, it would be hard to imagine someone as composed as Dawe having a quick strut in the corridors - even if he thought no one was looking.
CAREER HISTORY
1993-1998: Part of MBO of Investor Relations magazine. Sets up Cross-Border Publishing, overseeing marketing and operations
1998-2000: Publicity manager and marketing manager, Channel 4 2000-2005: Head of marketing, Open Interactive, rising to head of marketing, Sky, then director of marketing Sky Networks
2005-present: Managing director Heart 106.2.
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