A construction journal is reporting that Heron International are likely to award the contract for their £500m tower within the next few weeks.

Skanksa (the people who built SwissRe) are favourite as contractor.

Work is expected to start shortly afterwards...




http://www.britishdesign.co.uk/new/dd/images/portfolio/full/0b31bfd6c6eac569c871c92aa2a02577.jpg



http://www.britishdesign.co.uk/new/dd/images/portfolio/full/be7a4120004cd88646cfac5e4b213dec.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/heron/3.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/heron/4.jpg

I really like that a lot. London looks great.

I've never seen renders that realistic before.

That tower looks fantastic! Are there any predictions yet about how long it will take to build or would the contractor have to announce that?

242 roof or spire height???

Every case, a great adittion to London ;)

It's quality can't wait to see it get underway.

242 spire.

great height and looks amazing. also the location is pretty good.

Shame it's taken six years for it to begin construction, but better late than never.

A saying London has got used to.

Actually, I didn't like the design but height is OK. And facade is great.

How high without the spire?
:?

In the 2nd pic: it's almost same with Tower 42's height(without spire)

So around 180-200m, i think.

Roof height is 203m.

It will be the tallest building in the City.


http://i1.tinypic.com/nfsh7k.jpg

The previous design was 183m, but it was given a height increase (4 extra floors) :happy:

183m to 203m an extra 4 floors?

isnt 5m a floor alot arnt they normally 3.5-4m

It's great to see that the first of the proposed 200m+ skyscrapers for the City of London finally gets build.

Great news my second favourite tower behind bishopgate and a nice height too.

They really should skip the spire. Until today, London can be very proud of having not a single cheating skyscraper. There is so much height cheating going on in major highrise cities (Dubai is the worst example), but I do not think that London should join the cheater's club. The Swiss Re Tower shows, how nice a building can look without a spire.

London isn't trying to fill some skyscraper geeks wet dream. The spire is part of the design and the architects couldn't give a fat fig about whether or not it counts in the ranking of skylines on some website forum.

The spire is something London desperately needs on more of its towers - an echo of a London past pulled into the 21st century.

wow, what an expensive building! it really looks beautiful though!

Isn´t there an old building o the place heron is going to be built? They have to demolish that first before they can build anything. I´m sure the demolition could take almost a year so isn´t this a little too early?
But i´m sure it will be built and i really like it!

They really should skip the spire. Until today, London can be very proud of having not a single cheating skyscraper. There is so much height cheating going on in major highrise cities (Dubai is the worst example), but I do not think that London should join the cheater's club. The Swiss Re Tower shows, how nice a building can look without a spire.

Actually most londoners dont tend to include the spire height in max height, for example if you go onto gothics site skyscraper news he doesnt actually include spire height.

I hope that this kind of height measurement will become the standard in the skyscraper community. In the case of Heron Tower the damage of including the spire is not that big, but I hope that we will never have see a building ranked as Britain's or Europe's tallest just because of its spire.

But won't it be 7m taller than Canary Wharf including the spire..making it the tallest in the UK officially?

Yes, I think so. But only until it will be surpassed by Shard London. We will see, if Heron Tower will be advertised as UK's tallest building. Both towers are scheduled for completion in 2010. So it will not have the title for too long.

London isn't trying to fill some skyscraper geeks wet dream. The spire is part of the design and the architects couldn't give a fat fig about whether or not it counts in the ranking of skylines on some website forum.

The spire is something London desperately needs on more of its towers - an echo of a London past pulled into the 21st century.

Completely agree. The spire is an essential part of this tower's design - it wouldn't be as elegant or graceful without it. The spire is needed to give more "soar" and "lift" and a better pinnacle on the skyline. And you're right, there are hardly any towers in London with spires. We certainly need more.

Looks nice, couldn't picture it without the spire.

Exactly, the spire is what makes this tower imo. It wouldnt be half as nice without it.

I have to say, that's one of the best renders for any tower I've ever seen.

Will, Is that brown building in front of Heron getting knocked down? I know the one to its left (Drapers gardens?) is and the Stock exchange is being reclad but that brown building will really let the view down :(

Which brown building? The one on the extreme left of the image?

The one in the second picture (I should have been more clear, sorry)

The one right in front of 99 bishopsgate

You mean Angel Court (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=110703).

No, I haven't heard of any plans. I daresay it will undergo some kind of redevelopment eventually though. In the next decade or so, it will probably get either a major recladding, or internal refitting, or be totally demolished and replaced with something more modern that suits tenants better. It seems to be happening with a lot of midrises in the City - look at Citypoint, Drapers Gardens, the Stock Exchange, 20 Fenchurch Street, 122 Leadenhall, etc. Something will probably happen eventually.


http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/heron/2.jpg

No, I haven't heard of any plans. I daresay it will undergo some kind of redevelopment eventually though. In the next decade or so, it will probably get either a major recladding, or internal refitting, or be totally demolished and replaced with something more modern that suits tenants better. It seems to be happening with a lot of midrises in the City - look at Citypoint, Drapers Gardens, the Stock Exchange, 20 Fenchurch Street, 122 Leadenhall, etc. Something will probably happen eventually.




Thats just what I thought, but I was just wondering if anything had been heard yet. Thanks for your reply

looks really, really nice :)

Great news. And with the aircraft warning lights on top of the spire it will look HUGE at night. From drawing sightlines on my A to Z I think I might get a clear view of this one :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skanska to construct the City of London’s tallest building – Heron Tower

07/06/2006


Skanska has today received an order from The Heron Tower Property Unit Trust for the first phase of a contract to construct Heron Tower. When complete, Heron Tower will be the tallest tower in the City of London.

Pre-construction services will begin this month, with the main construction work starting in 2007, commencing with the demolition of existing buildings. This will be followed by construction of the new Heron Tower, which will be completed in 2010.

Skanska are providing a Construction Business Stream bid, which incorporates expertise from both its building and mechanical and electrical operating units. They bring with them experience of constructing other London landmarks which offers to Heron a total construction and building services solution.

David Fison, Chief Executive, Skanska UK said: “Heron have been very clear from day one what they wanted - A construction partner who adds real value and who works as part of the team to create the overall success of the project.

“At Skanska, our whole focus is on integrated project management and eliminating waste so we are delighted that we have been chosen by Heron to do exactly that on this most prestigious of contracts.”

Cahit K Atasoy, Director of Projects and Construction, Heron International said “Heron Tower will set new standards for office buildings in the UK and the method of procurement that has been chosen will revolutionise the construction industry, delivering the project in a style that is warranted by the quality of the building. We have every confidence in the team that has been appointed.”

Architects for the scheme are Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF).
Structural Engineers are Arup
Cost Consultants are Davis Langdon
Building Services Consultants are Foreman Roberts
Vertical Transportation Consultants are Lerch Bates & Associates
Project Managers are Mace

sorry for my ignrance, I'd like to ask a question.

Is this higrise area, financial center of London? What is the name of this area?

London has 3 financial centres:

The City of London - the main financial and historic area, rivalled only by Manhattan in terms of power
Canary Wharf - smaller financial area
The West End - mainly shopping/retail, etc. but other services too

Heron Tower will be in the 'City of London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London)'.

City of London:

http://static.flickr.com/36/87854549_6fee67408a.jpg

Great news about Skanska!

Heron Tower

Old

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/12/232786.jpg
http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/12/232788.jpg

New

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/430424.jpg
http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/430427.jpg

Great news! So London should have three towers going up over 200m next year, including a near-supertall tower! And thats just in the City! LBT, st georges wharf, Broadgate, Multiplex, and more! there will be so much going on in London by the end of 07!

The actual core of Heron won't be seen rising until 2008 though.

I'm so chuffed - I really like this tower. Understated architecture, but very, very classy. And very in keeping with the emerging city skyline. From reading messages from all the very informed folks on the SSC forums it seems that construction of this tower has been pretty much a racing cert for a while, but I'm still very glad to see further positive news, particularly about this very handsome tower. :) :) :)

not yet the whole tower. First phase only, probably the sub-structure. Ronson does not have yet the funding to build the tower.

Good news! It's a really interesting looking skyscraper!

The tower is designed so that its shape appears differently from each side, depending on where you're viewing it from.

This 3D Flash animation shows what I mean -

http://www.heron-international.com/findex.html

Click on 'Heron Tower' from the menu on the left.

This is actually quite an old animation, and the shorter version is shown here. The height has since been increased by 20m/4 floors.

Good news :)

Skanska built SwissRe didn't they?

Yeah, it'll be awesome to see multiple cores rising with their respective cranes all over the city. Hopefully during '07,'08 CW will see some fast action as well.

Good news :)

Skanska built SwissRe didn't they?
Indeed they did -

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=315471&page=1

:)

Good News, indeed good news...:)

this one looks nice, fit well with London's skyline.

I love the tower but I think they should speed it up a little. The core won't be rising til 2008? I dont think many of us British skyscraper enthusiasts can wait that long.

They can't speed up because we want it to. The main problem is demolition of the current site which will take at least 1 year due to it asbestos problems.

Aah, I was unaware that there was asbestos on the site.

Enlarged rendering showing the height increase -


http://www.willfox.com/images2/skyscrapers2/heron/5.jpg

Is all of the taller section services (i.e. lifts / stairs etc)?

As far as I can tell the height increase has been solely accommodated by stretching this section, the bulk of the building (actual office floors) appears the same height... correct me if I'm wrong!

thats exactly what i thought! seems a bit of a waste of extra height if so? still, any increase is welcome.

Some Quicktime videos, which I think you'll enjoy. Click and drag to move around/zoom in -


Looking up, from the northern side.
http://www.gmj.net/flash/heron/hounsditch.htm

The Skybar. Part of the 5-storey aquarium can be seen here.
http://www.gmj.net/flash/heron/skybar.htm

Internal view of the offices, showing the "village" layout of 3 stacked floors. Broadgate Centre can be seen outside.
http://www.gmj.net/flash/heron/officevillage.htm

Reception area, and steps leading to basement floors.
http://www.gmj.net/flash/heron/reception.htm

Bishopsgate entrance.
http://www.gmj.net/flash/heron/bishopsgate.htm

^^They are pretty amazing!

Some pics originally posted by Jef:

http://i11.tinypic.com/496nlg8.jpg

On this next one you can see baby Heron to the right

http://i11.tinypic.com/48yyi6v.jpg

You can see Leadenhall in the background

http://i11.tinypic.com/4d3tbm1.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/440muzb.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/473rlm9.jpg

And larger ones:

http://i11.tinypic.com/33w60pd.jpg

When will be build?

When will be build?
Kempson House will be vacated in April/May 2007, with demolition work underway in July/August 2007.

The core is expected to be rising by late 2008, with the whole building finished by late 2010.

Demolition will take a while as the existing building has asbestos.

wasn't demolition originally supposed to be 36 months because of the asbestos? I know it isn't going to be anywhere near that now, but I thought it was longer originally.

And UNESCO complains that the Tower of London could lose it's title as world heritage because there are too many highrise projects that would appear behind the tower... Where is the difference between 3 or 30 skyscrapers behind it in the skyline? The Tower will remain the tower,...????

^^ Exactly

I don't agree with UNESCO but don't you think a building can be affected by its surroundings? It's wrong to take a building as a stand alone object rather than something which makes up the urban fabric of the area. Imagine if St. Peter's Basilica was surrounded by a dozen 60s concrete brualist towers. It wouldn't be quite the same, would it? Low quality projects like Potters' and More London take away some of the impact of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, whereas I believe high quality modern architecture, such as the Gherkin, can only add to it.

Looks like this WILL be built after all! Funding has been secured! :banana: :banana: :banana:

From Property Week -



Heron on brink of funding coup for £500m tower
and £95m Barcelona leisure sale

24.11.2006
By Laura Chesters, Deirdre Hipwell, Daniel Thomas

Gerald Ronson’s Heron International is poised to seal a double international investment triumph.

In London, Heron has secured equity funding for the £500m, ‘six-star’ Heron Tower in the City from the State of Oman and corporate clients of Strategic Real Estate Investors.

The developer has also agreed a deal with Australian investment firm Babcock & Brown to sell Heron City in Barcelona, its flagship leisure and retail scheme, for around €140m (£95m).

At the Heron tower in the City, Heron is expected to invest £44m of its own money and has secured debt finance.

It had been in talks with three other global institutions but chose the State of Oman and clients of StratReal.

The funding and the debt package for the 451,474 sq ft (41,943 sq m) development is a coup for Ronson and Heron. Sceptics had suggested that it would struggle to get the tower off the ground. However, it will now be built to coincide with a strong forecast leasing market towards the end of the decade.

The oil-rich gulf state of Oman made its largest UK property purchase a year ago when it bought Hines’ 99 Queen Victoria Street office building for £65m. Hines’ then UK chief Philip Lewis is now a director at Heron.

The Heron tower will be funded through the Heron Tower Jersey Property Unit Trust, an offshore limited partnership in which the parties will hold equity stakes.

In Barcelona, Heron City is a three-storey amphitheatre-style scheme comprising 301,390 sq ft (28,000 sq m) of leisure and 64,585 sq ft (6,000 sq m) of factory outlet space. It is on the Meridiana – an arterial road passing through Barcelona.

The scheme is likely to be bought by the new Babcock & Brown GPT European Retail Fund, which launched a €400m (£270m) equity-raising campaign this week (finance, p23). Heron City is anchored by a 16-screen Cinesa Cinema. The annual rental income is €7.5m (£5m). It is thought that the Barcelona deal may be the first of other Heron City sales.
Postscript:

Land Securities is to begin looking for funding this week for its landmark ‘walkie-talkie’ tower development at 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London. The company has not made a decision as to whether it will go it alone, but BH2 has been appointed to seek interest from possible partners.



http://i1.tinypic.com/nc1ap5.jpg


http://i9.tinypic.com/4g98v9s.jpg


http://i11.tinypic.com/33w60pd.jpg


http://i1.tinypic.com/nc17yx.jpg


http://i11.tinypic.com/48yyi6v.jpg


http://i11.tinypic.com/4d3tbm1.jpg


http://i11.tinypic.com/440muzb.jpg


http://i11.tinypic.com/473rlm9.jpg


http://i7.tinypic.com/2hdnqqt.jpg

That's very good news indeed, hope to see this baby soon u/c

I never thought they would all go ahead, but now....

I just can't believe the second and third tallest in London got funding in the same day!!!!!

I've always loved the Heron Tower, something about it just made me fall in love with it. And I am so over the moon that, despite all earlier talk about it being scrapped, it seems to actually be going ahead! And I bet it's speed in starting construction will surprise us all. :D

Too late... I dont like it anymore.

Finally London will be getting a skyscraper with a spire on top!

I like it, very good design.

And UNESCO complains that the Tower of London could lose it's title as world heritage because there are too many highrise projects that would appear behind the tower... Where is the difference between 3 or 30 skyscrapers behind it in the skyline? The Tower will remain the tower,...????
Quote of cello 1974 from october 22nd '06 in this thread (i don't know how to make it say that in the quote box)


Thats why i don't think we (the UK) should participate in these sorts of organisation, i mean what do they actually do for the Tower of London? Any extra funding they give the TOL would be handy but i'm not sure if they do that even. IMO the bother they cause far outweighs the benefits of being part of them (along with that other unspeakable organisation - letter before F, letter before V), they just seem to be an extra obstacle for developers. What actual difference will heron tower make to visitors to the tower of london, it might impact views of the tower form certain angles but its so low rise the only really good view of it is from the south bank of the thames, around city hall etc. and no one is proposing to build a big tower there are they. Can you imagine - after this tower has been standing for 50 years Unesco will be saying 'Oh no, you can build that new stunning scraper there; you'll block views of heron tower from parliament hill' or something!
Bloody UNESCO, they sit in their bloody offices in bloody New York and think they know the situation with world heritage sites in the whole universe!!! :bash: die UNESCO die :bash:

RANT OVER deep breaths

o and if anybody can enlighten me as to why the benefits of being in UNESCO outweigh the disadvantages please do as i suspect there must be a good reason - same applies for the unspeakable organisation :)

Right, Unesco HQ can be found in Paris :laugh:
Not in NYC ...
Still enough reason for a rant, I guess.

Here's your very own Unesco: http://www.unesco.org.uk/

3D Google Earth model, posted by Jef -


http://i11.tinypic.com/30wt5k7.jpg

It looks very ordinary to boring.

I like it..any new tall is highly recomanded for London...
:dance:

I like it. It looks fairly ordinary (in a good way). Most proposals in London are so wacky that it is good to have a building which has some straight edges on for once!!

The design of this building is actually more detailed than most people realise. You need to study the different features...

What will make this tower I'm sure is not the "boring design" (Actually I like it), but the details of the design and hopefully the use of high quality materials. I'm sure this will look great when completed.

My fave London proposal after Bishopsgate, LBT and Leadenhall.

but I hope that we will never have see a building ranked as Britain's or Europe's tallest just because of its spire.

Generali Tower will be ranked as highest in Western Europe despite it's roof height only being 251m.

Generali Tower will be ranked as highest in Western Europe despite it's roof height only being 251m.

In the Netherlands a skyscraper of 262 metres will rise in the upcoming years.

There will be towers wt even higher roof heights in London, but again Generali will be the official tallest because of it's cone which reaches to 318m.

There will be towers wt even higher roof heights in London, but again Generali will be the official tallest because of it's cone which reaches to 318m.

Well most of the top third of London Bridge Tower will be plant, so we can hardly complain! Generali's 'spire' is definitely part of the structure proper, its not as if its a spindly antenna whacked on to cheat like Petronas.

Well most of the top third of London Bridge Tower will be plant, so we can hardly complain! Generali's 'spire' is definitely part of the structure proper, its not as if its a spindly antenna whacked on to cheat like Petronas.

I wasn't actually talking about LBT though, I was talking about Bishopsgate.

I find t strange though how Willis 125m is counted as roof height, even though the top portion is Plant. Same for St Helens, T42 and Swiss Re. But LBT's isn't?

^^ the plants are counted as roof height for the Shard, and Generali is 300m tall including the spire, structural height around 250m I think, not 318 anyway.

From what I can see from the renders of Generali, it has another little spire on top of it's cone spire!

And Heron Tower is 202m structural height, the 242m figure indicated in the thread title actually includes the spire.

and Generali is 300m tall including the spire, structural height around 250m I think, not 318 anyway.

Sour grapes.

We are getting a fatter greener version of the Heron tower in Dublin





http://pointvillage.ie/overview.html

^^ the plants are counted as roof height for the Shard, and Generali is 300m tall including the spire, structural height around 250m I think, not 318 anyway.

It's 269m without the spire, and 318m with it.

I read 251m and 300m respectively on the architect website and emporis.
In any cases I couldn't bother less. My point was that the spire should not be
included in the height of Heron Tower: it is 202m, not 242m.

I read 251m and 300m respectively on the architect website and emporis.
In any cases I couldn't bother less. My point was that the spire should not be
included in the height of Heron Tower: it is 202m, not 242m.

I read 251m roof and 318m to the 'second' spire on SSP.

Fair enough, I did not know thet were two spires.

Sour grapes.

No one wants Generali in London Brunob, even if it was the tallest building in the world. I certainly hope if Generali build a tower in London it will be better, not just a broken box with a cone stuck on top.

Seriously it obviously isn't the worst dsign in the world, but it really isn't tht good either.

It's a pretty well established fact by now that spires count. But whatever. Happy easter :)

It's a pretty well established fact by now that spires count.

Imo this is somewhat misleading. Heron will appear as a 202m tower. Not 242m.

251m and 300m are heights from the slab side. I read 318m from the ground in mars issue of "confidentielle défense", the official paper of the district.
Now you can leave 5 floors out of your count if you want, I couldn't bother less either, but it will still be 318m above ground, and it will stil rise 318m above your head when you'll walk next to it on the street side.

Btw, the spires of Generali and Heron have nothing in common, considering generali's spire has a real use and is therefore part of the structure.

It's a spire. A spire is a spire is a spire. Doesn't matter if it's got nothing in, wind turbies in, or dangling cages full of monkeys in. It's a spire, and it has the same treatment as any other spire in the world.

As Jef said, the Heron tower is a 202m (well, 203m) building that goes to 242m with it's spire. The Generali is a 251m building that goes to 318m with it's spire.

Simple as.

It's a pretty well established fact by now that spires count. But whatever. Happy easter :)

Happy Easter to you too:)

It's a spire. A spire is a spire is a spire. Doesn't matter if it's got nothing in, wind turbies in, or dangling cages full of monkeys in. It's a spire, and it has the same treatment as any other spire in the world.

As Jef said, the Heron tower is a 202m (well, 203m) building that goes to 242m with it's spire. The Generali is a 251m building that goes to 318m with it's spire.

Simple as.

Its still quite ambiguous... Sears is taller both to roof and antenna tip than Petronas and yet Petronas is 'taller' because of its spires, which are so slender they're practically antennae. Generali's spires are far more justifiably considered as part of building height as they're an integral part of the design. If you exclude Generali's spires then you should exclude the top third of LBT too, because they aren't habitable floors.

Obviously the debate is when is a spire and antenna and vice versa...

Well, if you aren't counting plant on LBT, you would have to also ignore the top portions of T42, Swiss re, St Helenes, and even Willis would become an under 100m building. Generali's cone is classed as a spire. I'm not saying that shouldn't be included in final height, I'm just saying IT IS a spire, not roof height (again I'm not saying it shouldn't be included in final height here, because we do exactly the same with Heron etc..) where as even though the Shard's plant floors don't have people living in them, they are still floors, and count as roof height. Thats how it is with all the current towers in the city of London, I don't see why the same wouldn't be afforded to the Shard, just because Generali is 251m to roof height.

And it's not the top third of LBT, plant is only the top fifth.

Generali's top is much more similar to the roof of ...let's say BOA Atlanta, thant it is to the spire of Heron. They really have nothing in common. Heron is more like the 15m spire on top of the new axa.

And the tallest corner reaches 269m, not 251.;)

Phil, I was under the impression (from reading Paris forumers comments) that the corners would be like spires themselves, as they are too thin to actually have people doing anything inside them, along with lift cores/stair wells etc...

Well, then in this case the top of 1cs is a spire and therefore Montparnasse is taller, Commerzbank is not even 200m tall, heron is 173m tall etc...

Its still quite ambiguous... Sears is taller both to roof and antenna tip than Petronas and yet Petronas is 'taller' because of its spires, which are so slender they're practically antennae. Generali's spires are far more justifiably considered as part of building height as they're an integral part of the design. If you exclude Generali's spires then you should exclude the top third of LBT too, because they aren't habitable floors.

Obviously the debate is when is a spire and antenna and vice versa...
Well, the spires of the Petronas are a very essential part of the design as well - can you imagine the towers without the spires?
I still consider the Sears to be a taller building though.

Here is a diagram to clarify things. To me the "spire" of Heron Tower looks more like an antenna.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/725/3tfj8.png

Is it really important? Dubaï is for now building 800m+ high rise without antenna and you are discussing a planned 242m high building (with or without antenna)? olala!

Is it really important? Dubaï is for now building 800m+ high rise without antenna and you are discussing a planned 242m high building (with or without antenna)? olala!
And you point is? Just because they are building a 800m+ tower in Dubai, all discussions about any other skyscraper become irrelevant? We might as well close the forum and replace it with a Burj Dubai Forum.

We can discuss about the architect, the architecture, the place of this building into a reflexion and a thinking, or we can discuss how is a storey composed, about technical facts, about energy, about public spaces, about the building insertion regarding different levels (street, roof, skyline), about appreciations, appropriation, about its role in the city... Antenna height is not a debate and it does not sum the interest of a whole building.
Axa is officialy 225,11m high. We'll see how tall is generali when the building permit will be delivered. And Heron is 202m (officialy?) and with its antenna/spire/birds buggery pick/anything you want it's 242m. There is no rules, just truthful height. So what about this debate? Height competition? P.... L.....

We might as well close the forum and replace it with a Burj Dubai Forum.

NO! NEVER!

Here is a diagram to clarify things. To me the "spire" of Heron Tower looks more like an antenna.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/725/3tfj8.png

I can't see it brisavoine

Well, then in this case the top of 1cs is a spire and therefore Montparnasse is taller, Commerzbank is not even 200m tall, heron is 173m tall etc...

Now you're getting it!

But really, what is supposed to be in the side bits of the Generali? Is it empty? Or plant? or what? If it is Plant right in to the top of the tallest edge, then you are probably correct about it being considered roof height. Like Canada Square being 235m is roof height and Heron is 203m roof height, because they are still actual floors, not spires.

What is in Generali's corners?

I can't see it brisavoine
Refresh the page and you'll see it.

But really, what is supposed to be in the side bits of the Generali? Is it empty? Or plant? or what?

What is in Generali's corners?
There will be a sky lounge and a restaurant overlooking Paris. The sky lounge can be seen on this picture, nested in one of the tower's top corners.

http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph1201.jpg

Refresh the page and you'll see it.

Ah, right thank you.

It is a spire though mind. Not an antenna.

There will be a sky lounge and a restaurant overlooking Paris. The sky lounge can be seen on this picture, nested in one of the tower's top corners.

http://www.defense-92.fr/photos/ph1201.jpg

I take that is the left corner on the diagram? So the roof height is into the corners. Thanks.

I take it that is 251m then, going by the diagram?

269m.

and there's wind turbines floors in the spire, so I don't see why you it shouldn't be counted. there's a big difference between a 30meters wide structure and a flagpole.

Because it is a spire. As said, it really doesn't matter whats in it. It is, according to you and everyone else, a spire. And it is included in height, as I have said. Just not ROOF height.

And the cone spire doesn't even go to 318m from what I have seen. It seems to have a little secondary needle-esque spire to give it a height boost.

Edit: we have been going on about this for more than a page now, we should stop as we are derailing the Heron thread.

Well, if you aren't counting plant on LBT, you would have to also ignore the top portions of T42, Swiss re, St Helenes, and even Willis would become an under 100m building. Generali's cone is classed as a spire. I'm not saying that shouldn't be included in final height, I'm just saying IT IS a spire, not roof height (again I'm not saying it shouldn't be included in final height here, because we do exactly the same with Heron etc..) where as even though the Shard's plant floors don't have people living in them, they are still floors, and count as roof height. Thats how it is with all the current towers in the city of London, I don't see why the same wouldn't be afforded to the Shard, just because Generali is 251m to roof height.

And it's not the top third of LBT, plant is only the top fifth.

No, my entire point is that I am counting the top of LBT, Tour Generali's spire, etc... As I say its so ambiguous that its idiotic to not count them as being part of the building's height... All that should be excluded are antennae.

I didn't realize that this building was fairly short (i.e., 200M to the roof). Does London have height and area limits for each plot like NY does?

I didn't realize that this building was fairly short (i.e., 200M to the roof). Does London have height and area limits for each plot like NY does?

To my knowledge the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) have imposed a ceiling on all of London City of just over 300m (LBT is as tall as anything can be). Nothing in Canary Wharf can exceed One Canada Square (235m) due to the proximity of London City Airport... The nimbys do all the rest!

To my knowledge the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) have imposed a ceiling on all of London City of just over 300m (LBT is as tall as anything can be). Nothing in Canary Wharf can exceed One Canada Square (235m) due to the proximity of London City Airport... The nimbys do all the rest!

So while there is a height limit in CW, there isn't one in the City? I was curious because the new buildings in the City -- other than the proposed Bishopsgate Tower -- are relatively short.

In NY, developers must battle both with height limits and with NIMBY's, whereas most US cities encourage buildings to be as tall as possible. In Chicago, the city and its residents cheer Calatrava's tower, but in NY, people would go ballistic and oppose it tooth and nail (even if the zoning allowed it).

So while there is a height limit in CW, there isn't one in the City? I was curious because the new buildings in the City -- other than the proposed Bishopsgate Tower -- are relatively short.

In NY, developers must battle both with height limits and with NIMBY's, whereas most US cities encourage buildings to be as tall as possible. In Chicago, the city and its residents cheer Calatrava's tower, but in NY, people would go ballistic and oppose it tooth and nail (even if the zoning allowed it).

Re-read the start of my post! London City is restricted to 1000ft / 310m by the CAA, Canary Wharf to 800ft / 235m.

I don't know if they apply restrictions to areas further away from flightpaths like Elephant & Castle or Croydon.

Eventually, when air flight becomes safer etc... and more accurate, I'm sure the height limits could be raised. This won't be for atleast a decade though, probably more.

Re-read the start of my post! London City is restricted to 1000ft / 310m by the CAA, Canary Wharf to 800ft / 235m.

I don't know if they apply restrictions to areas further away from flightpaths like Elephant & Castle or Croydon.

Thanks. I only saw the part re: the CW restriction. If buildings can be constructed up to 310m in the City, why is everything, other than Bishopsgate, so short (e.g., Swiss Re, Willis, Heron, 122 Leadenhall)? Are there floor-to-area ratio restrictions and height restrictions that apply to each parcel of land as in NY? For example, in NY, an individual parcel's zoning might only permit a building that is 300 feet tall, but unused air rights from an adjacent tower could be purchased that might allow an extra 100 feet to be added.

Re-read the start of my post! London City is restricted to 1000ft / 310m by the CAA, Canary Wharf to 800ft / 235m.

I don't know if they apply restrictions to areas further away from flightpaths like Elephant & Castle or Croydon.

Wasn't colombus tower 237m and that got planning approval and wasn't contested by the CAA.

Wasn't colombus tower 237m and that got planning approval and wasn't contested by the CAA.

Is Columbus Tower under construction? I think it will be the best tower in CW by far. Unlike the City, CW's skyline is quite boring. It's just a bunch of utilitarian glass boxes.

Is Columbus Tower under construction? I think it will be the best tower in CW by far. Unlike the City, CW's skyline is quite boring. It's just a bunch of utilitarian glass boxes.

No its been cancelled because someone in the family of the developer died and the site was sold on...but someone could still develope it with the original tower if they bought the plans.

No its been cancelled because someone in the family of the developer died and the site was sold on...but someone could still develope it with the original tower if they bought the plans.

Thanks. I hope it's built.

A model I did a few days ago for Heron Tower:

Sketchup Model (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?uq=08980132475305160291)

I know it isn't exactly accurate, but it gives a good impression of the tower:)

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool00/54/48/6F/30/77/16/11/DA/85/15/20/23/52/27/29/83/oma/10/8E5827C0E5CD11DBA033A6CD52273AB1.jpg

Thanks. I only saw the part re: the CW restriction. If buildings can be constructed up to 310m in the City, why is everything, other than Bishopsgate, so short (e.g., Swiss Re, Willis, Heron, 122 Leadenhall)? Are there floor-to-area ratio restrictions and height restrictions that apply to each parcel of land as in NY? For example, in NY, an individual parcel's zoning might only permit a building that is 300 feet tall, but unused air rights from an adjacent tower could be purchased that might allow an extra 100 feet to be added.

Well to be frank I get a little confused about it as well, because Bishopsgate was proposed above 300m but was then scaled back after objections from the CAA... And yet London Bridge Tower will exceed 300m a few hundred yards further south... Its nonsense really.

SwissRe was unprecedented being the first 100m+ building to go up in The City for 20 years, and it won through due to an exceptional design. The real test case, and floodgate-opener, is Heron. It could be argued that its original height was tentative and kept modest to improve its chances of approval, but it was then only scaled up by a bit, and even then without great impact on the skyline. Willis was in development while Heron was called in by the ODPM, so that might explain why its of very modest height... but market forces have also played a part.

We certainly don't have the strict zoning of New York, here it seems to be pretty haphazard.

Maybe someone more 'in the know' can explain, but a lot of it does seem pretty illogical.

Well to be frank I get a little confused about it as well, because Bishopsgate was proposed above 300m but was then scaled back after objections from the CAA... And yet London Bridge Tower will exceed 300m a few hundred yards further south... Its nonsense really....

Thanks for the info.

Latest news is that demolition will be starting in July, with completion in December.

^^

And then 1 year of archeological excavation before construction starts, so it should begin proper construction Q1 2009.

Another great building!

Can't wait to visit London again after all the finished new buildings!

From Construction News -

The chief of Skanska UK expects construction work to begin on the Heron Tower by the end of 2007. Demoltion is scheduled to begin in July on the scheme. At its peak, Skanska expects to have around 1,000 people working on the project which is worth £200m to the firm. As a result, Skanska will not be bidding for any of the major Olympic Contracts.

meaning the actual construction won't start before 2009 ....

^^ Yawn.

All of London City's projects are starting, yet you still seem to feel the need to come out with highly tiring and unnecesary remarks.

From Construction News -

The chief of Skanska UK expects construction work to begin on the Heron Tower by the end of 2007. Demoltion is scheduled to begin in July on the scheme. At its peak, Skanska expects to have around 1,000 people working on the project which is worth £200m to the firm. As a result, Skanska will not be bidding for any of the major Olympic Contracts.

That's brilliant news! :)

good to see london building some new stuff... last time i was in london (2 years ago) i was impressed with the old buildings... but lets get real... old buildings are boring after a while :lol: :lol:

go london!! ^^ ^^

Tenants of the current building have finally moved out, after a 5 year delay.

The entire site is now completely vacant and demolition will proceed...

this tower looks amazing very nice shape and will look amazing on london's skyline, tall, new and fits in well!

^^ agreE, I also like it! ;)

Just a quick update. Scaffolding is beginning to climb up Kempson House. A red crane appeared on site yesterday as well -


http://xs117.xs.to/xs117/07292/heron.JPG
By Potto


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/city_of_london/2-2.jpg
By me!

It's finally going to be built :banana:

Still a year away from actual construction though.

This now has a 4 metre height increase.

Project website -
http://www.skanska.co.uk/index.asp?id=10630

They are using a 44m spire instead of a 40m one. :happy:

So this will be the second 'height increse' they were going on about a while ago then lol:D

Ah well, it's better than nothing:)

Quality !

A spire increase (spire which looks like a very common and simplistic antenna, not like a 'structure' such as the empty glass 'crown' for LBT or Generali in Paris) is NOT an increase.
The building is still 202 meters or whatever it is without the spire. Period.

Anti-spire crowd!!! Join the fight!!! Don't let those things skew the numbers and twist the minds!!!

Stand up to the spire establishment!!!

Decent project besides that :)

We know it's a 202m building lol. Did you not get the kind of tounge-in-cheekness regarding a HUGE 4m height increase;):D

Sure but still... Spires, antennas, decorating rods and metal bits and bobs on top of which I cannot actually stand just make my blood pressure increase right away to alarming levels.

Except, of course, in the case of Phare/Morphosis. :colgate:

And I won't start a riot either about the Freedom tower cos' I'm still quite relieved about the 'updated' design they'll built compared to the irrespectful joke Libeskind had in mind before.

Still a year away from actual construction though.

that sucks!!!

^^ true, because the design now is actually acceptable. Im still wondering how its going to look, as in, if it will be to scale...

spires can sometimes make a building look cooler. like ny times tower; I think that one works. I understand your hatred for them, though

Posted by Squish in the UK forum:-


http://www.squish.net/misc/nortonrosedemolition.jpeg

So, we can expect a huge skyscraper boom in London in 2008. :banana:
Does anybody know which buildings will start construction next year?

Regards,

Castor

If I'm not mistaken, demolition will finish and construction will start next year on:
Heron Tower (246m)
Leadenhall Tower (225m)
The Pinnacle (288m)
20 Fenchurch St (the Walkie Talkie) (175m)
Construction of London Bridge Tower (310m) will commence later (demolition of current site only just having started)
Riverside South 1 and 2 (236m and 219m)
Broadgate Tower will be complete (165m)

20 Fenchurch Street is only 160m but apart from that your spot on.

and these...

Beetham Tower http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=239545
Bishopsgate Tower http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=227659
Strata http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=14716672#post14716672

^^ they had already mentioned the pinnacle (bishopsgate tower)

:hammer:

Thanks a lot, guys! :cheers:

Another 4m add to spire, cheat cheat :D:D:D:D

An update today from the Skanska website. Seems to indicate the archaeological investigations won't delay the project.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Tower crane erected
A tower crane has been installed in the centre of the site. This will be used for lowering demolition materials from the highest level to the street, a method that produces much less noise and dust than conventional methods where material is handled floor by floor down the building.

This crane will remain in place until November when the demolition of the two buildings will be approaching street level.


Scaffold erection
Kempson House is now encapsulated within a sheeted scaffold allowing demolition of the upper parts of the building to commence. The sheeting helps to contain noise and dust from the demolition process.

Bishops House scaffolding follows shortly behind. The scaffold has been cantilevered out from the building at 2nd floor level to enable preparatory operations for the temporary works to support the highway, necessary when the new basements are created at a later stage in the project, to be carried out concurrently with the demolition of the upper parts of the buildings. With the cantilevers completed, the footway in Bishopsgate has been re-opened to pedestrians and the carriageway is operating at full width.


Demolition started
A substantial amount of the fixtures, fittings, internal walls and doors have been removed from within the two buildings. Metals, timber, and rubble elements are being stripped separately such that each can be recycled, and where this is not practicable then the mixed waste is being sent to a sorting centre, where all that can be is sorted for recycling.

The upper levels of Kempson House have been stripped of the building services plant that was mounted there, and demolition of the structure has commenced. This will be a progressive operation starting from the top, breaking up the concrete structure floor by floor.

Breaking operations will be carried out by machine. Inevitably this operation is relatively noisy. The hours during which breaking will be carried out will comply with the voluntary quiet periods suggested in the City of London's Code of Practice. These are 10:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 16:00 hours.

To lay the dust during the breaking and clearing operations we will be using fog water sprays. These create a fine mist of water particles damping surfaces and laying dust as it is created. Under some weather conditions this fine mist itself can appear to be smoke or a dust cloud blowing from the top of the building.

The arisings from the demolition are being craned down and will be loaded into road transport between the two buildings. Hard materials are being taken to an off-site crushing plant where the prepared for recycling.


Temporary piling commenced
Whilst then new basements and foundations are constructed in 2008, it will be necessary to support the surrounding highways. Two methods will be used in differing parts of the site:

The first requires the construction of closely spaced bored reinforced concrete piles which will then be propped with steel sections as the excavation of the basements progresses downwards.

The second requires the installation of vertical steel kingposts founded in reinforced concrete piles. As the excavation then progresses downwards, the king posts will be propped with steel sections and panels of reinforced concrete "skin" wall will be cast between the kingposts, each panel below the previous.

Both methods use a powered auger to bore for the construction of the piles. This has commenced work in the corner at the junction of Camomile and Outwich Streets.


Archaeology
The Planning Permission for the tower is conditional upon an investigation being executed into the archaeology beneath the site.

The Museum of London Archaeology Service have been employed by our Client Heron Properties to carry out this investigation. Much of the potential archaeology on the site has been removed with the construction of the existing buildings in the 1960s and 70s but two areas are believed to remain undisturbed between the foundations. The basement slabs in these areas are being cleared and the foundations propped so that the archaeologists can commence their investigations from the basements whilst demolition proceeds at upper levels.


Services diversions
EDF have installed new high voltage cables within a service tunnel located underneath Houdsditch and have energised a new temporary transformer located in the closed footway on the west side of Outwich Street. This will maintain local capacity whilst the substations contained within basements of the existing buildings are removed and later rebuilt as part of the project.

Completion of the cable installation will allow them to tidy up the areas at the junction of Outwich Street and Houndsditch, though they have further excavations to excavate for low voltage cables at the Houndsditch/bishopsgate junction and in Camomile street.

National Grid (gas) and Thames water have further works to execute around the site which will involve a number of excavations.

Does this mean archeological excavation ISN'T going to take (and put the tower back) a year now?

Basically it sounds like they're on schedule. In other words, site preparation, foundations and basement construction should all take about a year. Core and steelwork will be rising in November/December 2008.

Good stuff!:)

ive noticed on my travels that there are two buildings on the site of Heron Tower. One is covered in a white plastic sheet and the other in scaffold. Are the both coming down?

one is...drapers gardens(which i throught was already down) and the Exchange Tower i think but i went yesturday and it had all gone...

one is...drapers gardens(which i throught was already down) and the Exchange Tower i think but i went yesturday and it had all gone...

Eh? Draper's Gardens is nowhere near the Heron site!

A quick update from PFarrey -


http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/9288/heron21024x768fv4.jpg

Nice photo, thanks.

Beautiful

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/PFarrey/H1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/PFarrey/H2S.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/PFarrey/H3S.jpg

:banana: Die 1960's dross DIIIIE!

Great updates PFarrey (this and others) :okay:

Yes Yes thankyou for the updates... :okay:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7838/09102007849hz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Picture from today

There was an incredible amount of noise coming from this one today.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/9080/h11024x768ie0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
By pfarrey (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/pfarrey)

Click to enlarge;
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1140/h21024x768ae1.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=h21024x768ae1.jpg)http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4029/h31024x768dm2.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=h31024x768dm2.jpg)

:banana: Die 1960's dross DIIIIE!



It does give you a warm feeling, doesn't it?

Test

Oh, I'm so looking foward to watching this one rise...

One of the two buildings is almost gone:

This is it.

http://web2k.co.uk/?im=1192705991

As of today, that building is gone, and only the one behind remains to be demolished.

A reminder of what will be replacing it:

http://i1.tinypic.com/nc1ap5.jpg

Us Brits have been staring at these same renders now for goin on 5 years and longer in some cases and its just really hard to think they are.. under construction! It means that we'll finally not need the renders and can look at the real deal :D

As of today, that building is gone, and only the one behind remains to be demolished.

A reminder of what will be replacing it:

http://i1.tinypic.com/nc1ap5.jpg


is it me or does that building curve in toward the middle...

its just a visual illusion.

yeah it does look like that

Is that going to be the tallest/longest continuous staircase in the UK running up the side?

Skanska has just been awarded the construction contract to build the Heron Tower. This tower is now 100% certain. :)


---


STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 31, 2007
Regulatory News:

Skanska (STO:SKAB) today has been awarded the contract to
construct Heron Tower in the City of London by the trustees of the
Heron Tower Property Unit Trust. The contract value is around GBP 242
M, about SEK 3.3 billion, which is included in order bookings for the
fourth quarter of 2007.

When complete, Heron Tower will be one of the tallest towers in
the City of London with its 46 storey's rising to a height of over 202
metres. At the top of the building sits an elegant mast giving an
overall height of 242 metres.

The new Heron Tower development is being constructed at 110
Bishopsgate in the City of London and demolition of the existing
buildings is already underway. Skanska has also been involved since
last spring, under a pre-construction services agreement in the design
process which included key components of the tower such as cladding,
structural steel, mechanical and electrical services and lifts along
with strategic logistical planning which will contribute to a
successful delivery of the tower.

The main construction work will start at the beginning of 2008,
with both the sub-structure and super-structure works being carried
out in parallel to achieve an overall shortened build period. The
project is scheduled to be completed in early 2011.

Skanska has combined its skills to offer its client a total
building solution, which incorporates expertise from all of its
operating units: mechanical, electrical, plumbing and IT services,
piling, steel decking, suspended ceilings and engineering resources.

Heron Tower heralds a long series of Skanska projects contributing
to a renewal of the London skyline, such as 30 St Mary Axe, The
Ministry of Defence's Headquarters on Whitehall, Moorhouse and
Palestra.

In addition, the company is currently working on Queen Anne's
Gate, One Kingdom Street and PaddingtonCentral. As earlier reported,
work has begun on a number of new projects during 2007, totaling GBP
332 M, about SEK 4.5 billion. These include Crown Place, Dashwood
House, Gresham Street and The Walbrook.

Skanska UK reported revenues of SEK 12.3 billion in 2006, with
about 5,500 employees. The company is active in building and civil
construction, utilities and building services. Skanska is also a
leader in the British program for private public partnerships, PFI
(Private Finance Initiative).

^^

Congrats!

It will be a nice addition to the London skyline.

I like Heron Tower, and I love that the London cluster is growing! :cheers:

demolition progressing at pace. Site to be cleared by December, ground clearance and architectural surveys then expected, construction confirmed to start in April, to be completed Q1 2011.

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9603/img1637nz0.jpg

From today;

http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/ba82127d7b.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

Surely it will be gone by the end of the month !

Good God it will be amazing when this starts construction, it has beeeeen so long in coming. I 1st started to become interested in skyscrapers when this was 1st knocking around....was a long time ago now. I wont believe it until it exists.

yeah its has been along time coming

Taken today;

http://thumbnails2.imagebam.com/81/f5e8ba801194.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/f5e8ba801194/)http://thumbnails2.imagebam.com/81/5f4b70801195.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/5f4b70801195/)http://thumbnails2.imagebam.com/81/2af21d801196.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/2af21d801196/)

Some new renderings.




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/1-19.jpg




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/2-12.jpg




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/3-14.jpg




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/5-6.jpg




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/4-8.jpg




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/6-5.jpg

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1364/dw11280x768zq7.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5817/h41280x768br7.jpg
By pfarrey (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/pfarrey), shot with DSC-W90 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=DSC-W90&make=SONY) at 2008-01-26

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4913/h51280x768pm6.th.jpg (http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=h51280x768pm6.jpg)http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2281/h31280x768br1.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=h31280x768br1.jpg)http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/3305/h21280x768ez2.th.jpg (http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=h21280x768ez2.jpg)http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5443/h11280x768pa3.th.jpg (http://img251.imageshack.us/my.php?image=h11280x768pa3.jpg)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7194/h11280x768pr0.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/2940/h31280x768ka5.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6668/h21280x768wz1.jpg

amazing:eek:
London will have the best skyline of Europe very soon:cheers2:

i'm still going with frankfurt in this question :D, nevertheless london will have an impressive skyline in the future :)

i'm still going with frankfurt in this question :D, nevertheless london will have an impressive skyline in the future :)

maybe so.dont wanna start the old city Vs city thing but hey Frankfurt will always be villiage compared to london.
World cities.New york tokyo paris london.y'know how it is....
eeeh ooop

We will have the best skyline in the EU. In europe, It will be moscow.

New Render, found by London Lad:

Coming to a billboard near you soon.


http://i31.tinypic.com/2copjso.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/vskp60.jpg

Amazing render. Hurry up and start rising for fucks sake.

Indeed. The spire really is integral to the design, it gives it so much soar and makes it more than just your average box. It is needed to even think of competing with the other proposals.

Official website - http://www.herontower.co.uk

And some new renderings ...




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/city_of_london/1-2.jpg




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/city_of_london/1_large.jpg




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/city_of_london/2-5.jpg




Basement level construction is expected to begin this month.

^^ Holy smokes!

I knew I liked this building, but if it ends up looking like that, it'll be be great. I've never been so excited about a box

Jesus holy mary mother of jimmity flibbins tis a corker of a set of renderings the likes the holy goat has never seen!

I'm liking Heron more and more. I think it's going to be hugely important important in balancing a City skyline populated with far more self-consciously eccentric designs.

Dashwood House looks a lot better in those renderings than in real life, too.

I'm liking Heron more and more. I think it's going to be hugely important important in balancing a City skyline populated with far more self-consciously eccentric designs.

Absolutely :yes:

If Minerva had been built too, it would've balanced the City skyline even more so.

imagine those renderings with rs etc in them.....looking back up the thread sum1 said frankfurt would have a better skyline. maybe on one level. but very few cities will have the imense scale london has and power it projects with the city cluster framed by the cw one!!!!!

the more renderings they do, the more incapable I am of having a favourite :|

heron didn't seem in the foreground with the shard and pinnacle, or leadenhall.. but those new renders, it may be the prime skyscraper, don't think we'll know til they're all built.. be the best collection of skyscrapers in the world.. no messing

http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3110602&c=1

http://www.propertyweek.com/Pictures/web/j/v/w/GeraldRonson.jpg


Ronson: property is no fast track to riches

15:21 | 07.04.08

‘All those who believed property was a fast track to riches are now learning harsh lessons’, Heron International boss Gerald Ronson said today.

By James Whitmore

Ten years of heaven

‘In the early ‘90s I stood before you at the time of the last downturn, and said it was about staying alive to ‘95 and going to heaven in ’97,’ he told an audience of 370 business leaders at Heron’s annual lunch in London. ‘So we have had our 10 years of heaven.

‘To misquote the singer, Dinah Washington, what a difference a year makes! I don’t need to stand here and let you know the world has changed. Last year I said that the market had gone too far and that the writing was on the wall. But clearly, for the new kids on the block, the words were written in invisible ink.’

Profit in a downturn

Ronson said he expected Heron, which has a £500m investment portfolio and a £1.5bn development programme, to profit from the downturn: ‘The best property investments Heron has made have been during a downturn. It is during these times that we believe we are most likely to identify opportunities which can make real returns for our shareholders.

‘We are currently sailing in a force 9 storm in the middle of the Atlantic but we all know that, ultimately, storms subside and it is those of us with sound foundations and long term vision who will survive the storm and come out stronger and wiser the other side.’

Unique

Heron is heavily involved in the London development scene, carrying out the Heron Tower and Milton Court, which will incorporate the new Guildhall School of Music & Drama and 300 residential units, in the City and The Peak office and retail development opposite Victoria Station.

‘For Heron it is all about the very best property, in the very best location,’ said Ronson. ‘London is unique. As the financial capital of the world, London is the place to be.

‘I am confident not only about commercial property but also central London residential property.

‘But we need to protect our position as the financial capital of the world. We need to ensure people continue to want to be based in London. We have to offer them the most desirable assets in the best locations not frighten them away with confused signals from the Treasury.’

Sorry about quality as they were taken on a moving bus. There were a lot of cement lorries queing up, perhaps to fill the metal tubes?

As you can see from the below picture there are these huge tubes which I assume is to do with the piling process. They certainly don't look temporary so I assume they are a permament structure.

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6108/h31280x768xs2.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8412/h11280x768ge8.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7880/h21280x768he9.jpg

Just above the van there is a huge hole with one of those metal tubes in it.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4181/h41280x768im8.jpg

skyscraperboom in London, skyscraperboom in Paris, skyscraperboom in Moscow, skyscraperboom in Madrid, skyscraperboom in Warsaw.........

WERE ARE THE SKYSCRAPERS FOR BERLIN.....:badnews:

I haven't seen this rendering here:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa250/Sbz2ifc/HeronTower60.jpg
(from KPF (http://kpf.com/main.asp))

The ones on the official site are much better though.

This is now officially u/c -

http://www.skanska.co.uk/skanska/templates/page.asp?id=11235

Bearing pile commencement

The start of the installation of the bearing piles is a milestone, a key activity target, in the programme to construct the Tower. The 17.3.08 was set at the outset as the date when demolition and enabling works - the clearance of obstructions at pile positions and the temporary support of the surrounding streets to allow piling rigs to operate within the site footprint - should be achieved if the end date is to be met.

Cementation Foundations Skanska were able to deploy their rig, cranes and equipment and commence installation of the first pile on the due day.

:cool:



http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/city_of_london/heron.jpg

Woohoo! FINALLY! This has been, what? 6 years in the making?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/city_of_london/1-2.jpg

More like 7 and a half... :dizzy:

God almighty! Either way, construction has finally begun, so at least it wasn't all for nothing!

It's funny. it takes a while for stuff to get going in London. And then, they get going at once!:D

great renderings. they show hot tall it is really is (certainly not 246m)

Yes, but unlike with things like antenna, the spire is an actual part of the design, and lets face it these renders show how integral it is, the tower wouldn't look right at all if it didn't have it.

202m or 246m, either way it still looks fantastic and elegant.

Very good news!! A great looking tower which will add very nice to the skyline! Yet again an KPF marble IMO! :)

Wiehooeee :D U/C !! Amazing news guys :cheers: on London :D:cheer:

Congratulations to London! Looking forward to see it rising... I was excited to see the U/C denomination here! :cheers1:

Lol, this render is so realistic that I thought it is already finished :D:D:D

skyscraperboom in London, skyscraperboom in Paris, skyscraperboom in Moscow, skyscraperboom in Madrid, skyscraperboom in Warsaw.........

WERE ARE THE SKYSCRAPERS FOR BERLIN....
Sorry, construction boom re-directed to Frankfurt :lol:
....

But back to topic. Good news for London!

Certainly. Thats a very nice skyscraper, and should certainly add to The City's skyline. Now we just have to hope that londons other projects come to fuition, especially the Shard.

I think it will be a great addition to the city of london skyline!

Pic by SELondoner. You can see a white crane going up on the left:


http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa164/SELondoner/08london/CityMay_026sm.jpg

From Mikey and JohnB in the UK Forums:

http://www.tvaerials.net/images/dsc_0329.jpg
http://www.tvaerials.net/images/dsc_0330.jpg
two more from Sunday :)

Well, here she is; a shame I didn't have the camera with me yesterday when they were fitting the jib.

http://web2k.co.uk/?im=1214336945

http://web2k.co.uk/?im=1214337196

Hmm. I can't see how far they are with the foundation works.. But good to see that the crane is there :)

Hmm. I can't see how far they are with the foundation works.. But good to see that the crane is there :)

Foundations wont be finished until Oct/Nov...ish.

best project u/c in london imo.

though hardly 246m tall. looks like the spire is now an antenna:

When complete, Heron Tower's 46 storeys will rise to a height of 202 metres providing unrivalled panoramic views over London. At the top of the building sits an elegant communications mast giving an overall height of 246 metres.source: skanska

strangely enough antennas don't count, unlike spires.

The spire on the top is part of the design, this is 246m. Its part of the tower, much like
WTC1's , making it 541m.

it's not a spire, it's a communications mast. they don't count in the overall height. just look at commerzbank ... the mast there is also part of the design, yet not counted.

the communications mast on the old WTC did not count. the towers were officially 415 and 417m tall. the northern tower had a mast, which reached 521m, but it was never part of the official height.

3rd crane is now up. Pics by Chest -



http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/towerun8.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/towerun9.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/towerun10.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/towerun11.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/towerun12.JPG

Wow. Huge :eek:

wow i love this building its sleek and futuristic. cant wait for it too be done

question: Is this at foundation work now?

Sorry I never been here.

They're excavating still it seems, But they started construction in April, and then the piling equipment was taken off site in Summer, now they are preparing to build the basements, then they aim to start super structure work in November.

another view of the basement work
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/towerun16.JPG

Apparently the core has begun rising this morning... though I find this hard to believe.

Pics from Chest:

there you go bitches, one mofo tower 'risin high'..

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/heronrising.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/heronrising2.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/heronrising3.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/heronrising4.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/heronrising5.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/heronrising6.JPG

This came out of nowhere. It seems to be ahead of schedule?

This tower must have been first proposed around 2000? After so long waiting, it has finally starter rising today. Put this date in your calendars now kids!:D