What a ridiculous thing to say. Heron is 246m. Pinnacle 288m. How could it be taller?

No its not...it could easily appear taller depending on a number of variables....what a ridiculous comment! ;)

moody photo from wawd - looks like almost a post-apocalyptic London, albeit with an Odeon. Awooga.

From Danny McL, Flickr:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3531592123_948d76aec1_b.jpg

That should be Minerva under construction at the bottom of the pic:(

^ What a fantastic photo - gives a real perspective of the whole area.

wowza thats lovely! got 100 middlesex in there too ;)

lots there ripe for redevelopment!

lots there ripe for redevelopment!

indeed potto, indeed! ;)

it's like a blank canvass jus waiting to be changed

Agree there's so many buildings there looking a bit tired perfect for some more towers.

What's the massive building to the right of Liverpool St Station (which runs the length of it)?

Broadgate.

Broadgate.

Thankyou.

The Bishopsgate Exhange, I love that thing at Street Level.

The Bishopsgate Exhange, I love that thing at Street Level.

That's the one, cheers.

Imagine what you could do with the site of that massive and highly unremarkable groundscraper a block to the left of *shudder* St. Boltolph's. Looks twice the size of Heron's floorplate.

Roll on the next massive, irresponsible, but highly satisfying building boom!

Anyone know what approximate height Heron is now? From that last pic I'd say it was close to matching 99 Bishopsgate, but it might just be the angle.

You get a very good idea of how small the footprint for the 'baby' Heron site is with that pic. That is going to be one slender tower!

Where will Baby Heron be on that pic?

Guy: Suberb image which you posted from DannyMcL. i guess the Hovis Building should be somewhere there too.

Where will Baby Heron be on that pic?

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p49/zedferret/heron.jpg

When will the baby heron be built? any idea?

It needs to be proposed first.:cheers:

It needs to be proposed first.:cheers:

how can we know about it if it hasnt been proposed :S

isnt the 'baby heron' the heron plaza?

heron 8pm tonight:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3548894465_cdd82ee1d6_b.jpg

i'm getting the feeling that this is quite a slim building really.

how can we know about it if it hasnt been proposed :S

isnt the 'baby heron' the heron plaza?

The 95m office building that was planned is being replaced with a 149m hotel. We know that much, and no more at this point.

I thought this was common knowledge?

The 95m office building that was planned is being replaced with a 149m hotel. We know that much, and no more at this point.

I thought this was common knowledge?

that was a rumour that was going around wasn't it?

someone said there was a new hotel for the city and someone else wondered if it was going to be baby heron?

The 95m office building that was planned is being replaced with a 149m hotel. We know that much, and no more at this point.

I thought this was common knowledge?

I didnt know of this. I though original baby heron looked good.

that was a rumour that was going around wasn't it?

someone said there was a new hotel for the city and someone else wondered if it was going to be baby heron?

Nope, ask Will. I think there was an article or something that stated Baby Heron's use would be changed, and Will said it would be 149m. I don't think Will is one for pulling numbers out of thin air and spreading rumors.

no you are right. Aslo, London Lad posted a new application or something.

It's official, because EH refuse to support the height increase because it interferes with the view of the Tower of London from Tower Bridge.

do you have a source for that?

It was mentioned on one of the threads here a few weeks back...let me have a hunt.

It's official, because EH refuse to support the height increase because it interferes with the view of the Tower of London from Tower Bridge.

What a load of cock.

There's a 200m building RIGHT next to it!

I found the report from London Lad, from post 992 of the last summary thread:

One last item of interest.

Following on from a brief report in EG last January about Baby Heron being potentially redeveloped as a hotel, it would seem EH already had wind of it last July and .....surprise surprise aren't impressed.

July 2008
Stonehouse
7.3 New proposals to develop a site on Bishopsgate with a building significantly taller than the one granted planning permission in 2004 would cause material harm to the LVMF view of the Tower of London from the north bastion of Tower Bridge. The LVMF had been adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the London Plan and staff intended to raise strong objection to the current pre-application proposals.

:lol:

1. it'll be standing within spitting distance of a taller building, in a cluster of talls!
2. a strong case could be made that the contrast between old and new (tower and skyscrapers) actually enhances the view
3. you, EH, are an irrational obsessive with a predetermined agenda, negligently preoccupied with anything tall - tall is necessarily bad, regardless of whether it actually is or not! you waste time and money, over and over again. how about a PI into you!?

The point EH has is that on certain views from Tower Bridge the tower in question 'disturbs' or 'pollutes' the outline of one of the old towers in the Tower. There are strict guidelines regarding this, that the outline of the building should not be disturbed (similar to St Pauls with Leadenhall/original 20FC, etc). Of course it is a ridiculous arguement, because you walk further down Tower Bridge Road and the entire City cluster pollutes the outline, but that is moot to EH because this isn't on a protected view part.

EH are simply following their rules, the problem being the rules are flawed.

I don't want to bring this up again, because I know they have nothing to do with this argument, but you have to remember UNESCO believed the Gherkin polluted the view of the Tower from Tower Bridge and were unhappy it was built, even though it was supported by EH. Evidently their legacy left on EH after they left was to appear more aggressive to any intrusion whatever new building made onto their protected buildings, and this has been seen on the likes of the Three Sisters, and will be again with the Three Houses later in the year.

I actually reckon this one could go to PI. Depends how 'intruding' the Baby Heron is. Until I see a render of the view I can't make a judgement.

fair enough - they're still a bunch of [insert swear word here], though!

i'm getting the feeling that this is quite a slim building really.

I must admit I thought this had a bit more girth to it! :yes:

But I suppose the location restrictions make it so!

i'm getting the feeling that this is quite a slim building really.Good. London's 'rapers need some grace. We have too many fat 'rapers as it is (eg Swiss Re and Canary Wharf).

Indeed. I think broadgate falls into the catagory of a fat raper.

Remember that the building will look much more bulky with cladding. Especially because you arent seeing the bulk of the right side of the building shown in the second shot. That just looks like some spokes in current photos and people are assuming the white frame is all there is..

http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/20407/heron1.jpg
http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/20407/heron2.jpg

3. you, EH, are an irrational obsessive with a predetermined agenda, negligently preoccupied with anything tall - tall is necessarily bad, regardless of whether it actually is or not!

Remember that we're on a forum that's pre-determined agenda is to generally like tall buildings just because they're tall... EH have more of an argument than "we" do! They aren't half as irrational as most people on this website!

^^^ On the whole I agree but EH are not as 'well rounded' as you infer by any stretch. Sometimes they are so busy looking upward for skyscrapers they dont notice the damage being done at the 'traditional' roofline. Just look at that box in front of St. Pauls. If you like, our job is skyscrapers and theirs is to protect our heritage. Bearing in mind their failings I would suggest we are doing a better job in places :lol:

Remember, as we are skyscraper nerds, they are also nerds of some kind....not sure what and certainly not very sure about their rationale!

Anyway. Theres a thread for this sort of thing so I close.

Remember that we're on a forum that's pre-determined agenda is to generally like tall buildings just because they're tall... EH have more of an argument than "we" do! They aren't half as irrational as most people on this website!

EH's job seems to have become 'hate tall buildings because they're tall' though. Look at Uniliver House. The extension does more damage to views of St Pauls than any tall building in the City could. They're just as irrational as "we" are!

From Wednesday:

http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhaa/037/img_1121.jpg

http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhaa/037/img_1123.jpg

Unfortunate timing:

http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhaa/037/img_1126.jpg

http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhaa/037/img_1127.jpg

http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhaa/037/img_1130.jpg

^^

Thanks for the update pics! This has well and truly broken free of the surrounding buildings and is asserting itself on the skyline.

Not long now until we get a glimpse of the cladding...

^^

Thanks for the update pics! This has well and truly broken free of the surrounding buildings and is asserting itself on the skyline.

Not long now until we get a glimpse of the cladding...

how do you know about the cladding?

Cladding at the base generally starts whilst the frame is someway up

For the first time, i actually don't wanna see no cladding till the end, i want to see the full structure making it look like a monster.

how do you know about the cladding?

It's on the project Gantt chart for 1 June ;) (see page 195 of this thread).

I'm assuming they're running to schedule.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/220509041.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/220509062.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/220509064-1.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/220509074.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/220509081.jpg

looks like its already reached Dashwood house height. tasty!

just thinking: at street level this skyscraper will feel quite unique for the city - slap bang on a busy intersection, rather than slightly tucked away like the gherkin, and accessible on all four sides, rather than propped up and stood back from the pavement like tower 42… it'll feel more like the "fabric" of the city, or something...

and just as i was typing that i came across this (no idea if it's been posted before):

http://*************************/london/tower_42.htm

http://*************************/london/jpgs/tower42_studioegretwest050208_1.jpg

^^
Woah, WTF?

I didn't want to post anything on this forum until I had something to say, so...

I walked past Heron today and can confirm that they have started cladding! There was a large glass section by the fire escape stairs.

I didn't want to post anything on this forum until I had something to say, so...

I walked past Heron today and can confirm that they have started cladding! There was a large glass section by the fire escape stairs.

*jumps for joy*

Is it any good?

I didn't want to post anything on this forum until I had something to say, so...

I walked past Heron today and can confirm that they have started cladding! There was a large glass section by the fire escape stairs.
:banana::banana2::banana::banana2::banana:

I was in a rush so I didn't get a very good look. The good news is that it didn't look green! Despite being covered in dust it did look rather sleek, as expected for this development. It's also surprising thick when viewed from the side which I suppose is for the tripple layers of glass.

That is good news. So hopefully it will be very faithful to the renders. :cheers:

The first shot of Fitz's is amazing - such a canyon.

The cranes will need jacking up again soon, this is rising at a fast rate and those cranes can't keep up.

I've just popped down to Heron to take some pics for you guys to make up your own minds on the quality.

I know this get's asked a lot on this site and I appologise... How do you upload photos?

use an image hosting website such as tinypic, imageshack, photobucket etc. you the copy and paste the forum url adress into the box that asks you where you want the photos to be shown.

Thanks TomD

Here's a glimpse of the future:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3555057970_5ebef4eff7.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3555055588_0c2db7801f.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3555053808_a82724518e.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3554244081_3826ed367f.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3555049890_cac511ab16.jpg?v=0

And the Tower's impact down Bevis Marks:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3555047940_f734d0d044.jpg?v=0

:banana:

Thanks for the photos :)

VERY clear stuff there, I like the black edging too.

thanks LonKong.

earlier renders presented it as predominantly blue, more recent ones grey with black and white trim - looks like we have our answer.

liking the white pinstripe, but we won't really be able to judge it for weeks i suppose.

I didn't really comprehend what I was staring at then, I thought 'oh, cladding' but it didn't register it's the Heron thread, especially given someone saying it was June when we'd see some cladding.

Well, hard to judge for now.. but yay all the same :|

ooooooh cladding!! Looks good, very transparent and classy. Niiiice.

10 internets for first pictures of cladding!!!

I like the look of it, I know it is too soon to judge....but it looks great.


You've been on SSC for 2 years and only made 5 posts?

Looks very transparent, me like :cheers:

I like too, but the proof is when more goes up.

You've been on SSC for 2 years and only made 5 posts?

But when he does post it's something special :D

nice:cheers:

great to see the cladding thanks LonKong :)

from aragon tower this morning:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3555530667_a84da7a8e9_b.jpg

Seems to be the same height as (can't remember its name) behind it.

What are those blue cranes building?

Seems to be the same height as (can't remember its name) behind it.

What are those blue cranes building?

In that shot it's surpassed Dashwood House behind and is rapidly approaching Ropemaker Place behind that

And when it overtakes Ropemaker, the main structure will be half way up. :cheers:
( Based on Ropemaker = 96m (~100m), Heron without spire = 202m (~200m) )

Woah, that is looking dense! Dashwood, Ropemaker, Citypoint, 99BG and Swiss Re (and now Heron).. A sea of blue glazing, lol. Never noticed that small reddish/brown block before (well, not that I'm aware of) a midrise with that cladding would look superb to break up the glazing - very Chicago-like.

Never noticed that small reddish/brown block before

It's near Aldgate Tube station, it will be gone for the Trinity 123 development, if it ever happens.

Apologies for the awful quality, but here you can (just about if you squint) see Heron popping up in front of Swiss Re.

This was taken from here (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=51.575764,-0.116149&spn=0.003634,0.006909&t=h&z=17), 4.5 miles away!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3555935779_180a441cf6.jpg?v=0

What are those blue cranes building?

If this view is looking due West, then these cranes could be for the Grange Hotel development in Prescott St. It has received minimal coverage in this forum, but was mentioned in the London Full Summary thread a while back (see here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=32683972&postcount=523)).

Seems to be the same height as (can't remember its name) behind it.

Looks exactly halfway in height between Dashwood House (73m) and Ropemaker (96m), so Heron is now approx 85m :)

I'm trying to work out how many floors are up so far, by my reckoning they are working on the 18th now?

yeah, i counted 18.

Can't wait till london looks like this...

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/renders/city_ardeshir.jpg

^ nice.

I read about the small 'barrel' shaped building on the bottom left of the rendering a while ago (can't remember it's name). Has that been given the go ahead?

Apologies for the awful quality, but here you can (just about if you squint) see Heron popping up in front of Swiss Re.

This was taken from here (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=51.575764,-0.116149&spn=0.003634,0.006909&t=h&z=17), 4.5 miles away!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3555935779_180a441cf6.jpg?v=0

i like that. its a slightly disturbing pic but good.

^ nice.

I read about the small 'barrel' shaped building on the bottom left of the rendering a while ago (can't remember it's name). Has that been given the go ahead?
60-70 St Mary Axe. Can of Ham.
Not sure if it's been Approved yet, I certainly haven't heard anything.

yeah, i counted 18.

Can't wait till london looks like this...

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/renders/city_ardeshir.jpg

Well if they don't build 122 LH they can resurrect the Millennium Tower and put it on that site, it would make the perfect cluster from this view... :D

Don't forget the Citygate Ecotower. ;)

Well if they don't build 122 LH they can resurrect the Millennium Tower and put it on that site, it would make the perfect cluster from this view... :D

only if CAA didnt exist! i think heathrow didnt like millennium tower too much either!

Damn Heathrow, surely planes are going to be quite high up 20 miles from the airport! :bash:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3531592123_948d76aec1_b.jpg


TBH I was surprised at how low the plane this guy appears to be on is.

Well if they don't build 122 LH they can resurrect the Millennium Tower and put it on that site

It would never get permission to be built on that site, it's the reason why 122 Leadenhall sweeps back so it doesn't interrupt the outline of St Pauls from the protected view on Fleet Street.

TBH I was surprised at how low the plane this guy appears to be on is.

Helicopter?

I took some pics of the cladding today but they're still uploading. Suffice to say, it's an A* from me. No sign of any greenness or cheapness. Crisp, clear and clean. Wonderful!

I took some pics of the cladding today but they're still uploading. Suffice to say, it's an A* from me. No sign of any greenness or cheapness. Crisp, clear and clean. Wonderful!

Miam! Can't wait!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3557445491_060ab3695a_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3558257836_1041aaaab2_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2478/3558263450_d9801ef1e9_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3557453561_5cd7820baf_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3557454503_d65a8f5ce8_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3557455481_c27a286525_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/3557456011_0595616d95_b.jpg

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet pics.......

niicccccceeeeeeeee!

Sweet! Clear and crisp glass!

It would never get permission to be built on that site, it's the reason why 122 Leadenhall sweeps back so it doesn't interrupt the outline of St Pauls from the protected view on Fleet Street.

Much as i'd like to believe it could be done, it was not actually a serious suggestion... :tongue3:

Mulattokid ... my, how you've grown

^^^ :) Thank you for noticing the love of my life :)

Every time I build him a skyscraper he knocks it down and belly laughs....as you see all around him. I wonder if he might join English Heritage ?

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1000534.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1000506.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1000486.JPG

Now visible from Norf London:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/mjf297/CIMG3997.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/mjf297/CIMG3998.jpg

^^

Nice - was that taken from Mount View in Stroud Green by any chance?

^^ Spot on! By the covered reservior

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1000506.JPG

great angle that chest - it's going to soar from there. beautiful part of the riverside, shad thames. thanks to all for the udpates. :cheers:

omg, just how much slimmer is Heron than the Gerkin? By the looks of those last pics from north London (cheers for them by the way they are great), its very slim and has one hell of a way to go up yet :). Or is it justthe angle making it look very slim?

Sorry for the quality. Taken from a fast moving train -


http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt283/skyscrapercitypics/london/heron/heron.jpg

omg, just how much slimmer is Heron than the Gerkin? By the looks of those last pics from north London (cheers for them by the way they are great), its very slim and has one hell of a way to go up yet :). Or is it justthe angle making it look very slim?

i know exactly what you mean, from the renders it looks pretty much the same width but it seems like its much narrower in real life!

also, thanks for all the picture updates people! :) much appreciated

I can't help but think Heron Tower looks a bit clumsy in this render from the Milton thingy Tower thread: It looks a bit too tall - the 180m version would have sufficed here, and the top could use some refining.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/renders/milton4.jpg

I disagree, and well.. no one is going to have 'that view' anyway (unless some serious supertall is proposed there) so nothing to worry about.. It looks superb to me.

Looks superb to me too - it's about time we got a tower that looks too tall and too slender as opposed to too short and too stumpy.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3563856334_63656f3d2a_b.jpg

I can't help but think Heron Tower looks a bit clumsy in this render from the Milton thingy Tower thread: It looks a bit too tall - the 180m version would have sufficed here, and the top could use some refining.

WHAT!!! Someone now complaining about a tower being too tall! :bash:

i know, its insane! what has the world come to :ohno:

anyway, great pictures guys! :)

I can't help but think Heron Tower looks a bit clumsy in this render from the Milton thingy Tower thread: It looks a bit too tall - the 180m version would have sufficed here, and the top could use some refining.
Nothing wrong with that render, Heron looks ok to me.

I'm saying that about a decade was spent refining the 180m Heron Tower - and this may have been ruined by the addition of a few more floors. Does anyone actually think the top few floors look good or are you all duped in by the spire (which draws attention away from the clumsy crown of the tower)?

It looks pretty identical to the previous design except taller. I think Heron is exceptional! It was always one of my favourites (if you're sad enough to look back at my posts from years ago you will see it was perhaps THE favourite of mine).

I am so excited about this tower, and I think it is gorgeous. The only thing that makes me sad is that from some angles it will look shorter than the Gherkin and Tower 42!

I'm saying that about a decade was spent refining the 180m Heron Tower - and this may have been ruined by the addition of a few more floors. Does anyone actually think the top few floors look good or are you all duped in by the spire (which draws attention away from the clumsy crown of the tower)?

Gherkin, The Crown of the tower hasn't changed, The 180m version had the same ' stairway to nowhere' crown.
The floors that have been added are from 39 to 42 and are full size floors.

If Heron was to be 180m tall, that would make it roughly the same height as Swiss Re and Tower 42, and we all know that a 'wall' of towers looks crap.

That was exactly what I was thinking ^^

But I thought I best not question some guys honest opinion lol.



When I say some guy I mean it in a nice way.

Looks superb to me too - it's about time we got a tower that looks too tall and too slender as opposed to too short and too stumpy.

I agree. I think Heron Tower will be the first building in the City which can be described as a "proper" (looking tall) skyscraper.
I wouldn't mind if Heron Tower was going to be 300+ metres tall. The taller, the better.

The previous design
http://i41.tinypic.com/2uz437d.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/mtpk61.jpg

I think Heron Tower will be the first building in the City which can be described as a "proper" (looking tall) skyscraper.
What's wrong with Tower 42? Looks like a proper skyscraper to me by any definition.

And who says only a box is a proper scraper anyway?

I took some pics of the cladding today but they're still uploading. Suffice to say, it's an A* from me. No sign of any greenness or cheapness. Crisp, clear and clean. Wonderful!

shweet. if it was put on on friday i may have them in my pics i took when i was in town. will see tonight when i get back.



edit: just looked at my pics- looks like i snapped the guys as they were adding the first piece. :) will upload in a bit.

from friday 22nd about 10am :D

will post some more later, that's the closest i've got of the cladding tho- didn't notice it when i was there!!


http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/heron%20tower%20receiving%20first%20cladding%20panel.jpg

fri

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_22/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_8002%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_22/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_8015%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_22/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_8029%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_22/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_8037%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_22/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_8041%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2009_05_22/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_8046%20copy.jpg

Quality pics well done.

^^Great photos. I had the day off work today so went along to have a closer look (but forgot my camera :ohno:)- it's pretty impressive already - can't wait till it's finished. I'm surprised how fast it's going up - must be about 1 - 2 levels per week?

^^Great photos. I had the day off work today so went along to have a closer look (but forgot my camera :ohno:)- it's pretty impressive already - can't wait till it's finished. I'm surprised how fast it's going up - must be about 1 - 2 levels per week?

I think it's 2 floors every 2 weeks. Not 1 floor a week, but 2 every 2 weeks.

Also, New Cross :master:

Any update on the cladding? I only get to go down at weekends...

I went past yesterday and there's a bit at the base, looks pretty much as you'd expect, grey-ish tinted glass and silver edging.

I think it's 2 floors every 2 weeks. Not 1 floor a week, but 2 every 2 weeks.
Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure I heard it was 4 floors a month.

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure I heard it was 4 floors a month.

LOL :)

Cladding! The Heron Tower is finally getting dressed.

Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure I heard it was 4 floors a month.

So your not getting to dry then ;) Nice one

Stainless steel for London's new skyline: Heron Tower to feature lattice facade from ThyssenKrupp Nirosta
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Following the sinking of the 25 meter foundation piles, construction work on Heron Tower is now progressing meter by meter. In parallel, the first facade elements are being attached to the high-rise in the City of London.

The framework of the tower will be clad with some 185 metric tons of stainless steel panels manufactured by ThyssenKrupp Nirosta (Krefeld).

More than 11,000 square meters of the lattice-like building facade will be covered in stainless steel. The developer attached particular importance to the absolute flatness of the panels.

With a linen-texture finish, the stainless steel panels will provide a high-quality, low-maintenance facade cladding that is insensitive to dirt and extremely durable. "The textured finish reduces reflection and glare from the surface of the material," explains Heinz Koch from ThyssenKrupp Nirosta's technical customer advice team. "The one-millimeter thick panels are 1.50 meters wide and cut to lengths of three to five meters depending on requirements," he adds. "Facade structures are tested in the wind tunnel during the planning phase, and there are also standardized processes to test their resistance to rain and strong winds." Partnering Nirosta on this project is the Cologne-based company Christian Pohl GmbH, which is responsible for further processing and delivering the panels.

Heron Tower was designed by the renowned London architects Kohn Pedersen Fox and features a stainless steel-clad lattice framework with large glazed areas. The high-rise is to be one of the world's most advanced office buildings, providing optimized energy efficiency and a pleasant working environment for employees, including a 70,000 liter aquarium in the lobby area. The tower's name comes from the London-based developers Heron International, a property investment and development group for office buildings, leisure centers and shopping malls that has already realized over 150 projects of this kind. On the top three floors there will be a public restaurant and bar. With a total height of more than 200 meters and 46 stories, the skyscraper will be one of the city's tallest buildings and a standout feature of the new London skyline. Anyone wishing to see Heron Tower for themselves will have to wait a little while: It is being built at 110 Bishopsgate, where it will be served by 10 subway stations, and is scheduled to open in 2011.



Source: ThyssenKrupp

'Anyone wishing to see Heron Tower for themselves will have to wait a little while: It is being built at 110 Bishopsgate, where it will be served by 10 subway stations, and is scheduled to open in 2011.'

Don't get that bit....but the rest sounds ace.


what on earth is 'lattice' cladding?

The lattice is surely where the horizontal, vertical and diagonal cladded beams present a form on two planes.

from today:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3573691076_df7b241f32_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3573692368_464df3a171_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3572888379_80c8f2ffa9_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3572891295_4e075cee81_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3572892713_c5bb7b9d8e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3573700244_137da82b80_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/3573701578_a54cc999ed_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3572889865_4c4c11bdd4_b.jpg

Still that one pain of glass lol....they're teasing us.

Fantastic pics, wawd!

Still that one pain of glass lol....they're teasing us.

I guess it's just a test panel. The project plan has installation of the cladding starting next week.

Cranes have been jacked up again, or at least TC1 has. TC1 also has it's second bracing section now attached to the main structure.

I think I can finally make out the top of Heron from my office (west of Buckingham Palace). Unfornunately I would need some kind of super-human eye-sight to be sure - squinting doesn't suffice. Or a camera with a zoom I suppose. Will keep you posted...

thanks for that londonlad. i had someone researching the cladding yesterday but they didn't find that!

Here are my redundant shots from a couple of hours ago. Wawd beat me to todays shots :p. If anyone wants to see very similar shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/archives/date-taken/2009/05/28/

Here are a couple of the cladding shots with some work on cladding going on.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/3573390439_6aa183edd0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/3573390439/in/datetaken/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3573392049_12cce5d5e8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/3573392049/in/datetaken/)

OMG! Look at that reflection, i can already see all the awesome pictures people will be taking in the future.

christ that cladding looks lovely, i truly adore the mirrored effect!

thanks for the updates guys! keep 'em coming :)

I feel a tingle in my pants.

Does anyone know what will happen to those grey, rectangular, metal sheets on the right hand side of the last photos? Will they be covered up?

Does anyone know what will happen to those grey, rectangular, metal sheets on the right hand side of the last photos? Will they be covered up?

No they're going to leave them like that. What do you think ;)

No they're going to leave them like that. What do you think ;)

Ah I though they would.

Looking at ghost101's and wawd's shots (cheers guys!) you can see on this drawing where the cladding fits on the main south facade. The left side of the cladding has a return that goes under the white steel beam - so presumably this will form a fire exit ? As one half of the glass has no ceramic fritting it must mean their will be some kind of shading behind the clear section? It really is incredible to think this will be partly single-glazed on this side - the clarity will be incredible.

ghost101
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/3573390439_6aa183edd0_b.jpg

wawd
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/3572892713_c5bb7b9d8e_b.jpg

About here?
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/HERON2.jpg

Hi all, thought id share this news report with everyone since it seems to mark an important step in the development of the tower!


First Cladding Goes On Heron Tower

Published on 28-05-2009 by Skyscrapernews.com
It's been almost a decade in the making but Heron Tower in the City of London is finally starting to rise above the skyline and make its mark at the rate of two floors every two weeks.

What's currently unnoticed for Londoners in general is that the cladding is now starting to be fitted onto the base of the KPF designed tower with the first pieces added late last week (pictured bottom right).

Amongst the façade treatments that are being installed is a lattice-like material from cladding manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Nirosta. They have been contracted to create 185 tonnes of stainless steel panels to help cover the framework of the tower that will have a total area once laid of 11,000 square metres.

ThyssenKrupp Nirosta's façade panels feature a thickness of only 1 millimetre that stretch to 1 and a half metres in width, and then varying lengths of three to five metres depending on which part of the framework each piece of cladding is designed to sit on.

One built Heron Tower will be the tallest building in the City of London, and when counted to the top of its spire the tallest building in the United Kingdom at 246 metres high. Putting the current structure into perspective, that's only about 90 metres tall.

Once complete Heron Tower is expected to be joined by a revised version of Heron Plaza that will boost the height to 149 metres.
Here is the link: http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2135


And thanks for all the wonderful pics you guys have been taking, very much appreciated for those of us who dont live in London!!

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1100904.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1100914.JPG

love that pic of the city with CW in the background...........imagine that in 10/15 years time!

It seems that within about 4-6 weeks Heron will be as tall as 99 Bishopsgate.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/3576399909_813cee9869.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/3576399909/)

This evening. Photos in poor light are rubbish on my phone.

From those shots of the cladding I'd say that this is head shoulders going to be the best looking building in the City. Seeing those few images was the first time I think I've ever responded to glass cladding instantly in a positive way. Usually have to think about it for a while. But this stuff is icily beautiful. :lovethem:

Wednesday, I think, sorry, phone and my office, no attempt to capture the halo.
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9793/image0028f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/luke82/BuildingPics290509017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/luke82/BuildingPics290509019.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/luke82/BuildingPics290509021.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/luke82/BuildingPics290509022.jpg

They should be starting floors 19 and 20 in the next couple of days it seems.

thanks to all for post soooo many pics :eek:

rising above the Commercial Road...

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1000610.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1000603.JPG

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/3576399909_813cee9869.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/3576399909/)

This evening. Photos in poor light are rubbish on my phone.

When you guys were first going on about how great the cladding looked I couldnt understand it as I thought it looked just like my double glazing at home.

But if that piece above the door opening is the latticed metal cladding then WOW! this is going to be class.

Also just noticed that on the return next to the lift panels on the right hand side there is another vertical strip of that cladding. :)

Wow Chest.. that is going to be an incredible viewpoint for the skyline, must get down there and have a look for myself.. Fantastic updates by the way guys, the cladding really does look fantastic!

Today

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/eddyk2/LDN2.jpg

No change in the cladding.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/eddyk2/LDN1.jpg

When the Heron tower is complete it will tower over the white building at the bottom from behind....so it will be great stood here in a year looking up at 4/5 towers.

[QUOTE=eddyk;37503044]Today


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/eddyk2/LDN1.jpg

great photo ... really nice to see somebody taking an unusual angle on these...:cheers:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/archives/date-posted/2009/05/30/detail/

A few shots taken today from near 201 bishopsgate.

great photo ... really nice to see somebody taking an unusual angle on these...:cheers:

Absolutely stolen from a Medo photo a few years back...

[QUOTE=BorderBoy;37506840]

Absolutely stolen from a Medo photo a few years back...

lol ...

lovely pictures, especially that vantage point you gave us, Bolted.

This weather we're getting will hopefully help things along too!

Some pics taken last week from OCS

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3580721861_919dcc4afe_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/3580722389_b033e6b00a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/3581533562_1ee1f70255.jpg

That's a very unusual angle on the City .. don't think i've ever seen its towers from that perspective

Amazing foreshortening there - Wembley looks close!

Amazing foreshortening there - Wembley looks close!

london does have an unusual way of forshortening distant structures (as does any city), but it seems ethereal

I think it's the curving river that does it ... the fact that we are confined to follow its banks so that when you see a straight perspective like that, cutting across those bends, you get this unusual view. I think. :)

from aragon tower tonight. she is breaking through to become level with ropemaker behind:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3582708788_186f14ea1e_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3581898095_a4cd2db49a_b.jpg

^^ Cool, almost up to 100m then - so when the next 2 floors are completed (above the 2 just started) this will be officially a "Highrise".

^^ Cool, almost up to 100m then - so when the next 2 floors are completed (above the 2 just started) this will be officially a "Highrise".

Yeah, its 3 floors above the 73m Dashwood House (and closer), about 85m, I'd say. one month and it'll hit 100m.

Hi, I know that this has probably been posted before, but will there be a restaurant open to the public on the top of this building?

Btw, this tower is amazing, I love how thin it is... much more elegant and will work better at street level than most of the euroscrapers in Frankfurt am Mein or Paris!

Update from today. A few more cladding panels have been installed...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/01June09041.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/01June09037.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/01June09050.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/01June09048.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/01June09049.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/01June09051.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/01June09052.jpg

Im in love with this building. Cant wait to see the shard rise now that will be some real quality !

Now that is looking like some seriously good cladding. Unless it suddenly becomes balsa wood and tracing paper from floor 7 I will remain excited.

It really does appear as if those behind Heron have been listening to our cladding demands.

Surely this can't be right - how dare they build a glass building in London that isn't green :rant:

Top-class cladding! Love it! :)

It's OK cladding, but i think for the age we are in now we should start to see something more inventive maybe, random cladding has seriously been over done and i think we should maybe design a few buildings with a different take on things...

The Beekman tower in Manhatten which is going up now, 75 stories is maybe a little too big for London, but it sure does have some lovely cladding...

Maybe we should start looking in that direction?

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/toml-1991/3.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/toml-1991/beekspan.jpg

The cladding comments are coming about because it is great quality. And giving this building wacky cladding would totally defeat the point of it, it's supposed to be more normal and understated than it's neighbors.

The Beekman Tower is gonna be awesome, strange to think I walked right past it not knowing what it's gonna turn into untill about a month ago.

That cladding looks very smart though, this bitch is gonna look stunning.

Not everything can be a Frank Ghery though....I think that when people moan about the new bland midrise going up wherever in the city.

The Beekman Tower ... this bitch is gonna look stunning.

oh ... right then ... jolly good. :nuts:

Well no progress on cladding since the 28th. But, look at what I saw today at around 8.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/3586309919_ecd7496a51_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/3586309919/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3587116902_272740361e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/3587116902/)

More cladding on its way tomorrow it looks like.

Not everything can be a Frank Ghery though....I think that when people moan about the new bland midrise going up wherever in the city.

i wasn't speaking specifically about the Heron, i do believe a nice modest, yet large building will suit the city square perfectly... though i think good spots in the city have been wasted with bland cladding like at 100 middlesex for instance and especially at Canary wharf... nevermind ey

nice one ghost, great to see the cladding moving in now! Nihil, those pics really show off the superb quality of the cladding, and i cant believe that Wawds shots show that its nearly the same height as ropermaker already!

oh ... right then ... jolly good. :nuts:

The second bit was aimed at the Heroin Tower.

So exciting to see this building rise after so many years. I'm in love with the cladding, its so minimal, sleek, elegant and absolutely perfect for this building. I also like how its relatively clear and doesn't have an obvious blue of green tint like so many other glass clad buildings.

Is green glass cheap glass?

Is green glass cheap glass?

All glass unfortunately contain ferrous oxide which produces the green tint. The thicker the glass, the more noticeable it is. I imagine the better the production process the less, wiki seems to suggest impurities are upto 0.1%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass#Color

Is green glass cheap glass?

Often quite the opposite, a lot of the (expensive) environmental processes done to make these curtain-walled developments at least partially sustainable, cause the glass to appear green.

This looks like it will ooze class!

The bigger the pane of glass, the thicker it must be. Regulations get tougher, so does the glass. Double or even tripple glazing adds more of that green tint. I reckon the answer, and probably is what they've done here, is to add more colours to get a black tint. Generally I'd like to see other colours used to mask out the green. Are we ready for blue mirrored glass again!?

The glass for the heron tower does have a slight green tint. Was disappointed to see it today.

Photos from this evening with a bit more cladding:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/archives/date-posted/2009/06/03/

Heres a photo where I think you can just about see the tint. Its much more obvious when you're their. There is nothing opposite either that could give the colour.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3593303886_4b72191813_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28418222@N02/3593303886/in/datetaken/)

Oh noes you took a picture of a Police Car, terrorist!!!1!!!1001!!!

Now appearing from Canary Wharf.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3593370520_4c21402f21_b.jpg

It and Middlesex really help bring Broadgate into the cluster from that angle.

thanks ghost, that pic of the cladding shows how some will be ultra clear, ye the section to the left is slightly bluey / darker...or is that just the reflection?

thanks ghost, that pic of the cladding shows how some will be ultra clear, ye the section to the left is slightly bluey / darker...or is that just the reflection?

No all the panes there have a green tint as far as I could tell. Its easier to notice when at an angle because you are looking through more glass.

http://www.pilkington.com/applications/products2006/english/bybenefit/specialapplications/optiwhite/default.htm


apparently this glass reduces the 'green' in glass yet is still good enough for solar control.

Is this the glass that is destined for LBT? They made a big point of it being very clear.

To be honest I'm not sure, I don't really know where you could find out such information apart from perhaps the council maybe?

Looking at it I'm pretty sure in this picture the glass in the lower circle is clearer glass than the other. It might just be that my eyes are shot to peices but I'm sure it is.

http://i41.tinypic.com/j0v0gx.jpg

Now appearing from Canary Wharf.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3593370520_4c21402f21_b.jpg
That's one of the best 'Highrise London' pics I've ever seen! Nice job! :)

Looking at it I'm pretty sure in this picture the glass in the lower circle is clearer glass than the other. It might just be that my eyes are shot to peices but I'm sure it is.

Could just be the different amounts of light coming through from the other side. The ground floor one has the full width of the site behind it, but the upper one has just the soffit of the floor above.

Could just be the different amounts of light coming through from the other side. The ground floor one has the full width of the site behind it, but the upper one has just the soffit of the floor above.

Agree. The "difference" must be due to the slight angle change between panels.

Modern quality control at the cladding contractor would never allow a significant divergence in glass quality/characteristics for manufactured panels to leave the factory. Architects, the precious little darlings that they are, would soon spot the difference and those panels would be back at the factory in no time.....

Well there's a pretty clear difference in the colour of beams behind both sections that's all that struck me. The lower beam is clearly white where the one above has a definite green tinge through the glass.

Perhaps the ground level doesn't need to be so protected from the sun and the upper level's do? Unfortunately they seem to of chosen green to be the main component of the towers glass facade, I could be wrong, shame really I was hoping this would not be the case.

To me, the beam behind the galss looks a similar colour to the beams behind it. Why the hell would they have two different colours of glass, on the atrium? Surely both those panels are the same. It's the angle and the light that's getting you all flustered, IMO at least.

I agree 100% Newcastle Guy,

I'm not so sure but they really need to put more up before we can make any assumptions.

I've stopped and stared at the glass in person and thought it was more blue/grey.

Sorry for the quality. This was taken at high zoom, from a fast-moving bus with grimy windows. But it gives you some idea of the progress:


http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt283/skyscrapercitypics/london/heron/95.jpg

This will be a fantastic edition to the city skyline!! whats impressing me most about it is the speed with which it is rising. I cant wait till I next visit London and get a real feel of the impact it will have on the skyline! Im new here, so hello everyone!

Hello :hug: I would wave on a first date but cant find the smiley

Welcome:cheers: And thanks for joining.

This will be a fantastic edition to the city skyline!! whats impressing me most about it is the speed with which it is rising. I cant wait till I next visit London and get a real feel of the impact it will have on the skyline! Im new here, so hello everyone!

hi, if you visit in about a few months it may already be halfway up...

Hey thanks for the warm welcome guys! im meant to be coming down in mid july for my birthday with some friends so i should get a good eyefull then!:cheers:

Hey thanks for the warm welcome guys! im meant to be coming down in mid july for my birthday with some friends so i should get a good eyefull then!:cheers:

:wave: Welcome!
Wow, nice one! if you've got time visit the yorkshire dales too! England's got a lot to offer other than London! :okay:

Boston Lincolnshire or Boston USA? :)

Boston Lincolnshire im afraid! lol

I was wondering why a guy from Boston would make his first few posts in the heron tower thread :p.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6959/dsc00110nrv.jpg

and if you look VERY closely, you can see me projected on aviva!

Boston Lincolnshire im afraid! lol

"Im Afraid" Why, Boston UK is far better looking than Boston USA

"Im Afraid" Why, Boston UK is far better looking than Boston USA

Ha ha ha dream on :ohno:

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6959/dsc00110nrv.jpg

and if you look VERY closely, you can see me projected on aviva!

Ash - thanks for the photo. Presume you are in 51 Lime Street? Enjoying the building? Are you allowed out on to the terraces for a sundrenched lunch?

not sure what to make of the cladding as yet.

Boston Uk obviously cant compete with Boston USA, but it does have its charms, like one of the greatest churches in the country, St Botolphs! the very building that got me interested in architecture in the first place. Sorry to get off topic here, lets get back onto this tower:cheers:

Ash - thanks for the photo. Presume you are in 51 Lime Street? Enjoying the building? Are you allowed out on to the terraces for a sundrenched lunch?

not sure what to make of the cladding as yet.


Yep. It's great building to be in and the terraces are open as long as weather conditions permit.:)

Regarding Heron, it seems like nothing much happens for two weeks and then overnight, two floors have been added. None the less, it's good progress!

Ha ha ha dream on :ohno:

Been there, done it and lived there and Boston USA is ok but not brilliant. Boston Uk is charming and tonnes more history.

Not sure what relevance Boston has to Bishopsgate so maybe if people are that fascinated they PM each other.

A (very) early morning shot. Looking forward to seeing the cladding start going up above the rooftops although I do like this shadow on T42.:)
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/sirleighroy/earlymorningheron.jpg

Awesome shot! Have to say thoughI really hate that tower block in front of the gherkin.

Awesome shot! Have to say thoughI really hate that tower block in front of the gherkin.


I bet its a good vantage point for pics though.

Awesome shot! Have to say thoughI really hate that tower block in front of the gherkin.
LOL, I like the way even we refer to buildings we don't like as 'tower blocks'

or '60s pile of shit'

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3601159793_d0dcb0ddfc_b.jpg

LOL, I like the way even we refer to buildings we don't like as 'tower blocks'

Thats Darling Point or something similar sounding off Commercial Street isn't it. I think it was gentrified recently and the flats are rather pricey?

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/sirleighroy/earlymorningheron.jpg

to...

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/toml-1991/may8copy.jpg

^^ nice, did u do that?