Watermark Place | City of London | 42m | 10 fl

[london lad]

Theresa storey in Propertyweek about Mann group confirming they will be taking the building next door - 300,000sq ft for occupation in 2010.

I posted a pic ages ago of the Foggo designed- Thankfully this has been dropped & a new scheme designed by David Walker & EPR. However the new HQ will be 10 storeys & slightly bigger than the Foggo scheme- Hopefully it wont be as overbearing as that one
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Man will take a 310,000 sq ft (28,799 sq m) building at the Riverbank House site on Upper Thames Street (news, 23.06.06).

The site, which has an existing consent for a building of around 290,000 sq ft (26,941 sq m), will be acquired from the City of London by a development partnership between Pace Investments and the City of London on a long leasehold of more than 150 years.

The plans will be revised and a new application will be submitted for a David Walker Architects-designed 10-storey building of more than 300,000 sq ft (28,000 sq m).

EPR has been appointed executive architect and Helical Bar has been named as development manager.

Man Group has signed a 25-year prelet deal at £45/sq ft (£484.40/sq m).

The new plans for Riverbank House are expected to be submitted in early 2007. Man hopes to take occupation by 2010.

Pace already owns Man Group’s existing headquarters and will negotiate an exit with the group, which has a sublease from sugar company Tate & Lyle until 2012.

The UK’s highest-paid chief executive, Stanley Fink of Man Group, said: ‘The building will enable us to continue our association with the City of London of 220 years.’

Riverbank House was the former headquarters of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein.

Savills and Morgan Pepper advised Pace and the City of London; Atisreal is advising Man Group. DP9 is the planning adviser.

[Smoggie_Si]

Originally Posted by london lad

The plans will be revised and a new application will be submitted for a David Walker Architects-designed 10-storey building of more than 300,000 sq ft (28,000 sq m).

10 storeys? Hmm that's concerning. I fear that it will be totally out of proportion with anything else in the vicinity. There's so much shite along this part of the river that it's good to see any building bite the dust (Billingsgate Fish Market excepted of course!) but the riverside areas should be less developed rather than more, however I guess I'll let it off if it opens up more public realm space on the river.

[london lad]

Still at least it cant be as worse (hopefully) as the Foggo scheme they are abandoning. This one really is overbearing.

[IMG]http://i12.************/47aivkg.jpg[/IMG]

[DarJoLe]

We're just replacing bland shit with more bland shit. The riverside should be the place to show off flashy architecture, giving the riverside a presence and a display of what makes London great. These just belong in any out of town business park.

[Mr Bricks]

Is Watermark Place higher than the current building?

[JGG]

Yes, it is. Whilst it should be lower. Don't worry, it just confirms the historical observation that the British and Londoners are crap at planning. Sorry guys, but it is true.

[Zenith]

We're just replacing bland shit with more bland shit. The riverside should be the place to show off flashy architecture, giving the riverside a presence and a display of what makes London great. These just belong in any out of town business park.

It makes me feel sick..truly sick

Oh and how do i place quotes like everyone else on here??

[Monkey]

Anything is better than Mondial House. Thank God that eyesore is going to be knocked down.

[JGG]

Originally Posted by Monkey

Anything is better than Mondial House. Thank God that eyesore is going to be knocked down.

The scheme replacing Mondial House is OK, nothing special, but at least it does not increase in height or bulk. And I think it will interact well with Cannon Street Station (at least the little that is left of it). It is the scheme to the east of it which is the problem (to replace the old Dresdner building). It is owned by the Corporation of London, so they don't even need to bribe anyone, the are both developer and planning authority. So in their desperate battle against Canary Wharf they have promised this site to Man Investments and now they need to increase the height and bulk of it.

With regards to Mondial House, I cannot understand why people are against such "out-of-character" buildings that is 30 years old whilst they applaud "out-of-character" buildings being constructed everywhere elese, even when nice neo-classical or neo-gothic buildings need to come down for it. When the "glass-and-steel" fashion is over they will look at least as bad as Mondial House. At least Mondial House was neither bland not cheap - they could have done much worse for a telephone exchange! If you don't like Mondial House, get worried because London is accumulating a lot of other similarly hideous buildings at an alarming pace. The sixties are back!

[Mr Bricks]

Has demolition started already?

[wjfox]

Demolition is progressing well. The upper floors on the north side have totally gone now.

[wjfox]

Taken this morning on my way to work -

[Varenukha]

At the risk of sounding sentimental, I am the only one who will miss the typewriter?

[wjfox]

Well, it was nice at the time, but it dated quite badly and I think it's the right time for it to be demolished.

[ought]

I'll miss it, especially judging by its suggested replacement.

If nothing else it was memorable and inoffensive, a difficult combination.

[Zenith]

It was disgusting and im over the moon its going....however its replacement isnt good enough. Its better than the awful typewriter yes, much much better...but its not what I want the riverside to be.

[Bowater]

"The building will provide the largest public riverside space in the City enlivened with Cafés and a new Bar/Restaurant." That's impressive I say.

[Bowater]

*Deleted* - repeat post

[london lad]

Originally Posted by Bowater

"The building will provide the largest public riverside space in the City enlivened with Cafés and a new Bar/Restaurant." That's impressive I say.

Considering the north bank of Thames along the city of London has f-all public space at the minute apart from the ToL its not quite an impressive boast.

[Bowater]

Originally Posted by london lad

Considering the north bank of Thames along the city of London has f-all public space at the minute apart from the ToL its not quite an impressive boast.

Exactly, it needs more and this offers that.