LONDON | Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle" | 944 FT / 288 M | 63 FLOORS

[wjfox2004]

Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle"

City of London, England

Height: 288m
Floors: 63
Architect: Kohn Pederson Fox
Developer: Arab Investments


Links:
Promotional video (YouTube)
SkyscraperNews page


Notes:
At 288m, the Bishopsgate Tower will form the dramatic centrepiece and soaring pinnacle of London’s financial district.
It will be over 100 metres taller than the City's current tallest building, Tower 42.

Plans for a tower on this site have been around since 2002. A previous design by Helmut Jahn was rejected after concerns
about the base and top, and its bulky appearance on the skyline. This new design, however, is more sleek and elegantly
proportioned. The architects of this new version, Kohn Pederson Fox, have created a tower which is more sensitive to the
City skyline, especially from Fleet Street, and complements the neighbouring proposals.

A planning application for a 307m tower was submitted in June 2005. Following concerns about flight paths from the Civil Aviation Authority,
a revised planning application with a 19m height reduction was submitted and given final approval in April 2006. In November 2006, the
developers secured funding for the project.


Current Status:
Demolition has now begun, and with funding and contracts secured, it has been confirmed that the tower will be
built speculatively. Actual construction is expected to begin in Easter 2008, with completion in 2011.
The full planning report for the tower can be accessed by clicking here.

[Down_Under_the_El]

I really like how the glass is used at the base.

[Chelsea Spy]

very exciting design in many ways... wonder if it will actually be built? I can't help but be doubtful.

[wjfox2004]

This has funding from some very rich Arab investors, and we've known for a while it's being built speculatively. The demolition is now entering the final stages, and construction itself will follow immediately... I'd say it's pretty certain to go ahead.

Couple of recent pics, courtesy of GazKinz from SkyscraperCity:

[Cypherus]

I love the tower design. It also serves as a central signature tower positioned centrally in downtown.

[Chelsea Spy]

Ok, that's interesting wjfox.

Cypherus - London doesn't have a 'downtown' in the NAmerican sense... but the tower will give a focal point to the City.

[SkyscraperMan]

Wow. Very nice design.

[wjfox2004]

Here are some overhead views of the site, courtesy of cstubbies from SkyscraperCity. They were taken from neighbouring Tower 42 (the City's current tallest).

[Fabb]

^It looks like a quality project.
Organic, futuristic, perfectly integrated... I love it !

[Ducov]

This tower will certainly be a great addition to the city. These high quality renders demonstrate that well. I am especially impressed to see that the base allows for easy pedestrian movement around and through the base.

This will be very unlike Swiss Re, which apart from it's many qualities did have a very minimal entrance, lobby and forecourt. At the base it is practically detached from it's surroundings. For this reason, I have at least, always preferred to see it from a distance. This won't be the case with this one.

[jc5680]

The base is incredible on this building. Its like a the bottom of a dress in motion. Incredibly dynamic in its form but still very subtle in a way. Very nice!

[GreatTallNorth2]

London doesn't have a downtown? The entire city is a downtown!! I love this tower and I love London. London might not have the most towers for its size, but what it is lacking it makes up for in great design.

[Chelsea Spy]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

London doesn't have a downtown? The entire city is a downtown!! .

Exactly - the concept is meaningless when applied to London.

[wjfox2004]

A model which includes 2 of the other planned towers nearby (122 Leadenhall and the Heron Tower) -

[Thefigman]

^^ What a beautiful cluster!

[MolsonExport]

Nice tower, and fits very well into the cluster.

[Fabb]

I wouldn't say that.
I'd say that the cluster would be boring without the Pinnacle.

[Shep]

2011 is looking good for a completion date on a lot of really beautiful buildings in London!

I do feel sorry though for the workers in what I think is a good looking stubby building at the base of 'The Pinnacle' in the picture above, will it see much daylight???

[elfabyanos]

Originally Posted by Shep

2011 is looking good for a completion date on a lot of really beautiful buildings in London!

I do feel sorry though for the workers in what I think is a good looking stubby building at the base of 'The Pinnacle' in the picture above, will it see much daylight???

They're called Hiscox in that building and they're already complaining about the noise - the building on the site already that's being demolished was built literally inches away from the Hiscox building. And they are lawyers so they keep being a pain in the courts.

[wjfox2004]

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?...de=3130917&c=0

Brookfield to build Pinnacle for £575m in City…

09 January 2009

By David Rogers

Australian contractor Brookfield has signed a deal to build the Pinnacle – the tallest building in the City of London – for about £575m.

The firm, which changed its name from Multiplex last year, agreed a maximum price with developer Arab Investments just before Christmas. The figure is understood to be £75m higher than initially expected.

Brookfield was originally chosen to build the 63-storey scheme in Bishopsgate in summer 2007 and the developer had hoped the job would be completed by 2011. But delays in signing off the deal mean it is now set to finish in early 2013.

Mace has been overseeing the demolition and groundworks, which are being carried out by Keltbray, for more than a year under a construction management deal but will hand over to Brookfield next Thursday.

Ashley Muldoon, the managing director of Brookfield’s construction business in the UK, said: “We’re pleased to have signed the contract with Arab Investments and look forward to supporting them in the development of the tower.”

The firm has let most of the main subcontracts on the 288m-high tower. Dutch contractor Hollandia, which worked with Brookfield on Wembley Stadium, and Belgian firm Victor Buyck will carry out steelwork as a joint venture, having previously worked together on the Gherkin. Permasteelisa subsidiary Gartner will carry out the cladding.

Meanwhile, Mace is expected to sign a deal to build the 310m-high Shard in London Bridge within the next week. According to sources close to the project, the scheme’s funders are close to agreeing a price of about £425m for the tower.