Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle" | City of London | 288m | 63 fl | On Hold

[bundy]

http://www.cnplus.co.uk/News/2008/05..._pinnacle.html

Mace on standby for the Pinnacle

Published: 07 May 2008

Mace is waiting in the wings to take on a £500 million deal for the tallest tower in the City of London if Brookfield, formerly known as Multiplex, cannot agree a deal with the client.

Brookfield is said to be in the final stages of putting a price together for the Pinnacle, a 287 m tower on Bishopsgate in the City.

But project sources say that, while developer Arab Investments is keen to work with Brookfield on a guaranteed maximum price deal for the job, it is also holding the open the possibility of using the scheme's project manager Mace under a construction management deal if it cannot agree a price.

Brookfield has been working with Arab Investments since August last year on a pre-construction agreement for the tower. While Mace is project manager, it already has a construction management deal for the basement works on the 63-storey scheme, which it is claimed will be the biggest single commercial building in the City of London.

Belgian steel outfit Victor Buyck has emerged as the lead contender for the steel package on the project, having previously been the steelwork contractor for the nearby Swiss Re tower at 30 St Mary Axe.

If Mace did take over the reins on the scheme it would be the second time that the firm had moved in on a major London tower scheme previously earmarked for Brookfield.

The firm is currently waiting for the completion of demolition of the Southwark Towers above London Bridge before it starts building work on Shard London Bridge, the UK's tallest tower scheme.

Brookfield had previously worked on the London Bridge scheme but walked away in 2006 after client Teighmore decided to open the contract up to competitive tendering.

A spokesman for Arab Investments said it was waiting to receive a price from Brookfield for the Pinnacle deal. Work is due to start on the tower in June for completion by 2011.

[wjfox]

^ I've edited your post. The story is only available to registered members, so the link wasn't showing anything.

[TomD'07]

Well thats some good news, plus they want to start construction next month! A trio of U/C towers all within 150m of each other soon then!

[wjfox]

Does anyone know the schedule for prep work, piling, core and superstructure, etc.?

[ismail]

Walking past the site at 22:30 last night, there was still demo working going on in a large and noisey manner, there was also piling crane used to lift caisons on site and this was being assembled.

Great news, looks like Mace are turning out to be the Keltbray of the tower construction companies

[DarJoLe]

The heart of the City is just one big building site at the moment.

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[TomD'07]

Mace want to take on all the most prestigeous projects, or so i was informed. Nice photos - the white sheet along bishopsgate must be there just to reduce dust now then i guess?

[jimbo]

just about gone then. I do love the smell of demolition in the morning. Its a fairly small site footprint, but I guess there's going to have to be one smeg of a lot of piling and excavation to do before this gets anywhere near superstructure.

All very positive news re: Mace and Brookfield battling it out. Big kudos for putting these up I guess, Skanska having already secured Heron (and didn't they do the Gherkin as well....). BLL have Broadgate and 122 Leadenhall Street, so you can sort of see the 3/4 main contractors who have provenance with these high rise schemes.

[dom]

In Property Week this week the head of Arab Investments stated his absolute determination to build the Pinnacle. He stated that the major problem was the cost of steel and that the tower wasn't profitable unless it was let at over £55-60 sq ft.

However he said that all other projects by lots of other developers which were spec build have been put on hold so he wanted very much to push ahead of it.

Why?

Because in 2010-11 the City rental market will have recovered and this tower will be ready to let and projected rents are north of £60 a square foot then.

Anyway, this and the Shard, 122 and Heron are all dead certs.

To be honest that is quite enough for London at the moment, all are great quality and London will have one of the best skylines in the world with all of these finished in 2012.

[AXISPAW]

God bless Great Britain, god bless London and god bless arab investors lol.

[ismail]

the road was closed off last night, when I walked past at 2230 hours, and lots of Keltbray workers on site, It looks like the bridge could be comming down this weekend, everyting above the bridge has been demolished

[1LONDONER]

What exactly is that black sheeting with the wood cross bracing on it there for, on the side of buildings?

[TomD'07]

probably waterproofing. would have been nice to let the hiscox builting rot though!

[large]

Originally Posted by AXISPAW

God bless Great Britain, god bless London and god bless arab investors lol.

Ala bless them

[SELondoner]

Works under way today on the overbridge across Bishopsgate (note the sparks are flying!):

[Black Cat]

Thanks for the breaking news SELondoner!

[SELondoner]

No problem!

Of course I can't say whether they'll complete the job in one go; for all I know they're still doing prep work and will have to come back another weekend, but I hope not, it'd be nice to see the bridge down.

[SELondoner]

Actually, here are another couple. One close-up of the guys on the bridge, and one wider shot. In that one you can see the crane which has been set up in the road, which makes me more inclined to think they're going all the way this weekend!

[Bones]

Looks like that guy with the blowtorch or grinder is cutting the thing up. Bet it goes this weekend.

[Bowater]

What's the advantage of losing these bridges & walkways in the city? Can't say they serve a great purpose but they do seem to add an extra dimension to the city & they don't do any harm. Why are they being phased out?