Bishopsgate Tower

Infobox Skyscraper


caption=Bishopsgate Tower
building_name= The Bishopsgate Tower
status= Under Construction
previous_building=
year_built=
surpassed_by_building=
year_highest=
year_end=
location= 22-24 Bishopsgate, London, England
roof= convert|288|m|ft|0
antenna_spire=
height_stories= 63
construction_period=
complete=
floor_area= convert|131510|m2|sqft|-1
architect= Kohn Pedersen Fox
contractor=
emporis_id= The Bishopsgate Tower, also known as The Pinnacle or The Helter-Skelter, is a 288-metre (945 ft), 63-storey skyscraper currently under construction in the centre of London's main financial district, the City of London.

Planning

The architects of the tower are Kohn Pedersen Fox and the developer is the fund management company, Union Investment Real Estate AG. The tower was originally proposed at convert|307|m|ft|0, but scaled down to convert|288|m|ft|0 following concerns from the Civil Aviation Authority.

The tower was submitted for planning permission in June 2005 and approved in April 2006. [cite web | last = Skyscraper News | title = DIFA Bishopsgate Tower Approved | publisher = http://www.skyscrapernews.com | date = 2006-04-25 | url = http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=589 | format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-09-08] If built, it would become — dependent on whether Shard London Bridge is built first — the tallest building in the UK, and one of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe. It is one of several major towers planned for London, the others being Shard London Bridge, the Heron Tower, 122 Leadenhall Street and the 20 Fenchurch Street redevelopment.

Nearby are the skyscrapers Tower 42 and 30 St Mary Axe (also known as "The Gherkin").

Construction

In August 2006, Keltbray began test piling on site. Demolition began on the smaller of the two buildings in November.

In February 2007, it was confirmed that the Bishopsgate Tower had been purchased by Arab Investments and that the building would be renamed "The Pinnacle".

In May 2007, it was confirmed that full funding had been secured and that the tower was likely to be built speculatively. [cite web | last = Union Investment Real Estate | title = Union Investment Real Estate completes sale of The Pinnacle to Arab Investments | publisher = http://realestate.union-investment.com | date = 2007-05-30 | url = http://realestate.union-investment.com/docme/presse/presseinformationen/796cc2a195ea3ee749fc9a7af2841868.0.0/054_BishopsgateClosing_eng.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-05-31]

In June 2007, demolition began on Crosby Court, the larger of the two buildings on site.

In August 2007, Arab Investments signed a pre-construction contract with Multiplex to build the tower. Details are as yet to be ironed out. [cite web | last = Construction News | title = Multiplex wins £500m tower | publisher = http://www.cnplus.co.uk/ | date = 2007-08-30 | url = http://www.cnplus.co.uk/news/news_article/?aid=61865&sid=107 | format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-08-30]

Demolition

Demolition of the site began in mid-2007. It was scheduled to be completed by February 2008. This however was changed to April 2008 because of an injunction won by insurance company Hiscox in December 2007, who are based next-door. They complained about the noise from the site.As of June 2008, demolition is complete. The initial injunction obtained by Hiscox Syndicates and Anthr in January 2008 afforded protection on 3 points:1. Protection of the right of access the Car Park entrance from Crosby Square2. Protection from water ingress3. Protection from vibration by way of set PPV limits at certain times during the working day.

The injunction was successfully varied in June 2008 at a hearing on 13 June 2008. An application to vary the terms of the injunction in connection with access was granted and a new Order made by the Technology and Construction Court.

Alternative access across the site ensured that access to the car park entrance is maintained whilst demolition above and adjacent the highway continues.

Construction

In Late May 2008, a mobile crane and piling rig were on site, preparing the site for construction. Full construction is imminent. It was reported on 1 September 2008 that a Law Firm were to take up 80,000 Sq Ft of office space. The tower is now under construction, with steel rebar cages being inserted into the ground, which form part of the piles which will hold the weight of the tower. The skyscraper is expected to be rising sometime in 2009.

Facts

* When completed, this will become the tallest building in the City of London.
* It will contain more solar panelling than any other building in the UK, with convert|2000|m2|sqft|-2 of photovoltaic solar cells, generating up to 200 kilowatts of electricity.
* It will have a double layered skin like 30 St Mary Axe that allows it to respond dynamically to climatic changes and utilise effective climate control with low energy consumption.
* To drive costs down, every single panel on the tower will be of exactly the same size.
* Once completed, it will contain convert|88000|m2|sqft|-2 of office space.
* A restaurant will be open to the public on the upper floors.

References

*coord|51.5145|-0.0829|display=title|region:GB_type:landmark_scale:5000_source:wikimapia

External links

* [http://www.planning.cityoflondon.gov.uk:90/WAM/findCaseFile.do?councilName=Corporation+of+London&appNumber=06/01123/FULEIA Planning application]
* [http://realestate.union-investment.com/downloads/difa/6578b558d68b03dfb3ee75ca8ece8f0d.0.0/tbt_en_large.mov Bishopsgate Tower promotional video] (23mb)
* [http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=2839 Skyscrapernews.com file on the Bishopsgate Tower]
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=237829 Emporis building detail]
* [http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=729 A forum discussing all of London's current and future skyscrapers]