Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle" | City of London | 288m | 63 fl | Demo + U/C

***wjfox*** · July 20th, 2006, 01:37 PM

Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle"
The City

Height: 288m | Floors: 63 | Architect: Kohn Pederson Fox | Developer: Union Investment Real Estate AG (formerly known as DIFA)

Links: Bishopsgate Tower promotional video (23mb) | Skyscrapernews listing

Notes:

At 288 metres, the Bishopsgate Tower will form the centrepiece of London’s financial district. It will be over 100 metres taller than
the City's current tallest building, Tower 42.
Plans for a tower on this site have been around since 2002. A previous design by Helmut Jahn was scrapped following concerns over
the base and crown, and its effect on views from Fleet Street. The revised design - by architects Kohn Pederson Fox - is more
sleek and elegantly proportioned, and is intended to complement the neighbouring proposals such as the Leadenhall Building.
A planning application was submitted in June 2005. A revised planning application with a 19m height reduction was submitted
and given final approval in April 2006. In November 2006, the developers secured funding for the project from Arab Investments.
The full planning report for the tower can be accessed by clicking here.

Current Status:
Piling is complete. Keltbray are back on site, to complete demo of the previous building (by 10th January 2010), and to complete the
enabling works. A new excavation, 5.5 metres below the present basement floor, is to take place in January in preparation for the core in late 2010.

Despite the long wait, it seems highly likely that this tower will eventually be built. All of the retail space has been let, plus over 25% of the office space,
and the four restaurant floors at the top.

Topping-out is scheduled for late 2012, and the building is due to open in 2013.

Newcastle Guy · July 20th, 2006, 01:43 PM

one thing that always amazes me in that picture, is the church to the left compared with the tower

***wjfox*** · July 20th, 2006, 01:54 PM

I sometimes imagine what it would be like if people from previous centuries could see London as it is today. What would their reactions be to skyscrapers, etc.?

Then I think about the 22nd/23rd centuries and how London will look then. What sort of amazing buildings/structures and landmarks will there be, and just how "different" will the city be?

Newcastle Guy · July 20th, 2006, 02:01 PM

Well if that scientist who is studying cell repair is succesfull we could possibly live to see that

Fragmentor · July 20th, 2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newcastle kid

Well if that scientist who is studying cell repair is succesfull we could possibly live to see that

that would be so cool

Newcastle Guy · July 20th, 2006, 06:18 PM

Boy, would it! It also seems very plausible, and by 2010 we could have some great results after tests on mice. I really want to know what happens to the human race, because I think the next few hundred years will really decide how good a race we are. I believe there is definately a good chance some of us younger ones around here will live to see the 22nd century, and hopefully we will be able to go even further. Imagine how many advancements will be made in the next 50 years! And Imagine how London will look in Just a few decades. I can see there being a 400m+ built or atleast proposed by 2020.

Anyway, back to Bishopsgate. This kind of talk isn't really for this thread.

jorgen · July 20th, 2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newcastle kid

I believe there is definately a good chance some of us younger ones around here will live to see the 22nd century

Promise to keep us others updated then

warcry · July 20th, 2006, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fragmentor

that would be so cool

no it wouldent it would be playing God

London_guy · July 20th, 2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warcry

no it wouldent it would be playing God

For fuck sake nothing is more annoying than seeing an updated thread expecting to view some updated news on the thread only to see a reply completely off topic.

I know I'm almost contradicting myself by posting this reply but I had to say something.

jef · July 20th, 2006, 02:52 PM

Will, who hinted they might build it spec?

The developer, DIFA, must first find a co-investor, which it has so far failed to secure.
Meanwhile, and as far as I understand, a substantial pre-let will be required to secure bank loans. This prelet will be difficult to achieve with the massive speculative schemes in the pipeline of British Land and Securities, Heron, etc.

Site clearance might well begin in the near future but I reckon we will have to wait for another couple of years to see actual construction starting, if ever.

Zenith · July 20th, 2006, 03:06 PM

A strange question I know but can anybody tell me what the state of play will be in 2008 and 2009 in London respectively, regarding transport/infrastructure and skyscrapers ? best guesstimate that is...I know its been said before.

timo · July 20th, 2006, 04:38 PM

the world won't be inhabited by humans in the 22nd / 23rd centuries

wearethefuture · July 20th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo

the world won't be inhabited by humans in the 22nd / 23rd centuries

Rubbish, i'm sure even with the most catastrophic collection of events a least a few humans will survive in some capacity. Who knows maybe even you or i, no one can say what the future holds, except there will be some great scrapers!

timo · July 20th, 2006, 05:35 PM

i have seen the future

you are not the future

tick..tick...tick...boom

DarJoLe · July 21st, 2006, 12:21 AM

Part of me feels it could be very soon, part of me feels it will be a long way off.

It surprises me at how what seems a couple of skyscrapers starting in the next few years and a smattering of groundscrapers suddenly constitutes a glut of office space, and how it seems there is only a handful of companies in the City large enough to sign up to schemes.

I guess this 'floodgates opening' idea we were promised a few years back never really had a stretch of water behind to fill the lock, so to speak.

***gothicform*** · July 21st, 2006, 01:02 AM

this tower will NOT be built speculatively.

***wjfox*** · July 21st, 2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gothicform

this tower will NOT be built speculatively.

But it's still possible that enabling works, demolition and site preparation could commence, even without a pre-let. If you remember, Minerva considered doing this with their tower. It's a way of speeding up the process in case a potential tenant comes along wanting a tower.

Newcastle Guy · July 21st, 2006, 01:18 PM

Yes, LBT still has a building on site, which means it is going to take longer to begin actual construction when the prelet with TFL is secured, where as it would have been alot faster if PWC had left last year and demolition was now complete. We could have seen it starting in a matter of weeks if it wasn't for PWC needing relocaion. So it is better for DIFA to get that sorted out now, before they get their prelet.

caw123 · July 21st, 2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjfox2002

But it's still possible that enabling works, demolition and site preparation could commence, even without a pre-let. If you remember, Minerva considered doing this with their tower. It's a way of speeding up the process in case a potential tenant comes along wanting a tower.

Clearing the site without a prelet isn't exactly comparable with building the whole thing......

Fragmentor · July 21st, 2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caw123

Clearing the site without a prelet isn't exactly comparable with building the whole thing......

No it's not, but it's a hell of alot quicker than doing it after. I suppose if this happened and everything fell through they could sell the design to some crazy big company who could build right away if the didnt need a tenent, but obviously they dont intent on doing it for that purpose

July 20th, 2006, 01:37 PM	#1
*wjfox* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: L O N D O N Posts: 21,240	Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle" \| City of London \| 288m \| 63 fl \| Demo + U/C Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle" The City Height: 288m \| Floors: 63 \| Architect: Kohn Pederson Fox \| Developer: Union Investment Real Estate AG (formerly known as DIFA) Links: Bishopsgate Tower promotional video (23mb) \| Skyscrapernews listing Notes: At 288 metres, the Bishopsgate Tower will form the centrepiece of London’s financial district. It will be over 100 metres taller than the City's current tallest building, Tower 42. Plans for a tower on this site have been around since 2002. A previous design by Helmut Jahn was scrapped following concerns over the base and crown, and its effect on views from Fleet Street. The revised design - by architects Kohn Pederson Fox - is more sleek and elegantly proportioned, and is intended to complement the neighbouring proposals such as the Leadenhall Building. A planning application was submitted in June 2005. A revised planning application with a 19m height reduction was submitted and given final approval in April 2006. In November 2006, the developers secured funding for the project from Arab Investments. The full planning report for the tower can be accessed by clicking here. Current Status: Piling is complete. Keltbray are back on site, to complete demo of the previous building (by 10th January 2010), and to complete the enabling works. A new excavation, 5.5 metres below the present basement floor, is to take place in January in preparation for the core in late 2010. Despite the long wait, it seems highly likely that this tower will eventually be built. All of the retail space has been let, plus over 25% of the office space, and the four restaurant floors at the top. Topping-out is scheduled for late 2012, and the building is due to open in 2013. Last edited by wjfox; November 25th, 2009 at 09:57 PM.

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July 20th, 2006, 01:43 PM	#2
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 7,773	one thing that always amazes me in that picture, is the church to the left compared with the tower

July 20th, 2006, 01:54 PM	#3
*wjfox* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: L O N D O N Posts: 21,240	I sometimes imagine what it would be like if people from previous centuries could see London as it is today. What would their reactions be to skyscrapers, etc.? Then I think about the 22nd/23rd centuries and how London will look then. What sort of amazing buildings/structures and landmarks will there be, and just how "different" will the city be?

July 20th, 2006, 02:01 PM	#4
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 7,773	Well if that scientist who is studying cell repair is succesfull we could possibly live to see that

July 20th, 2006, 06:18 PM	#6
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 7,773	Boy, would it! It also seems very plausible, and by 2010 we could have some great results after tests on mice. I really want to know what happens to the human race, because I think the next few hundred years will really decide how good a race we are. I believe there is definately a good chance some of us younger ones around here will live to see the 22nd century, and hopefully we will be able to go even further. Imagine how many advancements will be made in the next 50 years! And Imagine how London will look in Just a few decades. I can see there being a 400m+ built or atleast proposed by 2020. Anyway, back to Bishopsgate. This kind of talk isn't really for this thread.

July 20th, 2006, 02:52 PM	#10
jef Guest Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Brussels/London Posts: 3,362	Will, who hinted they might build it spec? The developer, DIFA, must first find a co-investor, which it has so far failed to secure. Meanwhile, and as far as I understand, a substantial pre-let will be required to secure bank loans. This prelet will be difficult to achieve with the massive speculative schemes in the pipeline of British Land and Securities, Heron, etc. Site clearance might well begin in the near future but I reckon we will have to wait for another couple of years to see actual construction starting, if ever.

July 20th, 2006, 03:06 PM	#11
Zenith Confused Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Plymouth Posts: 4,976	A strange question I know but can anybody tell me what the state of play will be in 2008 and 2009 in London respectively, regarding transport/infrastructure and skyscrapers ? best guesstimate that is...I know its been said before.

July 20th, 2006, 04:38 PM	#12
timo Weaste Infection Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manchestoh Posts: 291	the world won't be inhabited by humans in the 22nd / 23rd centuries

July 20th, 2006, 05:35 PM	#14
timo Weaste Infection Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manchestoh Posts: 291	i have seen the future you are not the future tick..tick...tick...boom

July 21st, 2006, 12:21 AM	#15
DarJoLe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: East London Posts: 11,169	Part of me feels it could be very soon, part of me feels it will be a long way off. It surprises me at how what seems a couple of skyscrapers starting in the next few years and a smattering of groundscrapers suddenly constitutes a glut of office space, and how it seems there is only a handful of companies in the City large enough to sign up to schemes. I guess this 'floodgates opening' idea we were promised a few years back never really had a stretch of water behind to fill the lock, so to speak.

July 21st, 2006, 01:02 AM	#16
*gothicform* Bossman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: not london Posts: 16,914	this tower will NOT be built speculatively.

July 21st, 2006, 01:18 PM	#18
Newcastle Guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 7,773	Yes, LBT still has a building on site, which means it is going to take longer to begin actual construction when the prelet with TFL is secured, where as it would have been alot faster if PWC had left last year and demolition was now complete. We could have seen it starting in a matter of weeks if it wasn't for PWC needing relocaion. So it is better for DIFA to get that sorted out now, before they get their prelet.