The Scalpel
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| The Scalpel | |
|---|---|
 The Scalpel in August 2018 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Topped-out |
| Location | London, EC3 United Kingdom |
| Construction started | 2015 |
| Estimated completion | 2018 |
| Cost | £500m[1] |
| Height | |
| Roof | 190 m (623 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 38 (+ 2 basement floors) |
| Floor area | Offices: 37,564 square metres (404,300 sq ft) Restaurant: 883 square metres (9,500 sq ft) Retail: 98 square metres (1,100 sq ft)[2] |
| Lifts/elevators | 11 TWiN lifts, 2 goods lifts, 2 cycle lifts, 1 firefighting lift and 4 escalators. |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Kohn Pedersen Fox |
| Developer | WRBC Development UK Limited [3][4] |
| Structural engineer | Arup |
| Main contractor | Skanska |
The Scalpel is a commercial skyscraper under construction in London, United Kingdom.[5] It is located on Lime Street in the City of London financial area. Originally a nickname but subsequently designated as its official name, the term "Scalpel" was coined by the Financial Times[6] due to the building's distinctive angular design and followed a trend of nicknaming new buildings based upon their shape, such as the nearby Leadenhall Building, also known as "The Cheesegrater".[7] Upon completion in 2018, The Scalpel will be 190 m (620 ft) tall, with 38 storeys. It was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox.[8]
The site is on the corner of Lime Street and Leadenhall Street, opposite the Lloyd's building and adjacent to the Willis Building. The skyscraper is being built for insurance company W. R. Berkley and will be the firm's new European headquarters, occupying approximately one-quarter of the total office space.[9] A small proportion of the commercial space will be occupied by a retail shop at street-level, a basement restaurant at the Leadenhall Street frontage, and by a café at the Lime Street entrance. Office space has also been pre-leased to BPL (level 12) and Axis (levels 2-3).
Planning
WRBC Services Ltd applied to the City of London Corporation for planning permission in September 2012 to demolish Prudential House (52–54 Lime Street and 21–26 Leadenhall Street), Allianz Cornhill House (27-27A Leadenhall Street), and Winterthur House (34–36 Leadenhall Street and 4–5 Billiter Street) and to construct a new building of 38 storeys comprising office and retail uses.[10]
On 15 January 2013 the City of London Planning and Transportation Committee recommended that planning permission be granted for the application.[5][10] On 11 June 2013 the Common Council of the City of London permitted the development to go ahead subject to certain conditions being met.[10]
The construction of the new tower first required the demolition of three existing buildings on the 0.33 ha (0.82 acres) site. The building at 38 Leadenhall Street (on the corner of Billiter Street) will remain despite being within the block that the new tower will dominate.[2]
Construction
Skanska were appointed as the main building contractor.[1] In October 2013, the developers informed the Corporation of London that the project would commence on 23 November 2013.[10]
As of March 2017 the core has been completed and the metalwork is now up to the 34th floor with glass panels installed on the lower floors.
See also
- City of London landmarks
- Leadenhall Building a skyscraper nearby
- St Andrew Undershaft, the church opposite on Leadenhall Street
References
- ^ a b Allister Hayman (22 July 2013). "Skanska set to start on £500m Scalpel tower". Building.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Planning and Transportation Committee report" (PDF). City of London. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "52 Lime Street Property Summary". Property Group Partnership. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ Peter Bill (21 September 2012). "Insurers reckon the Scalpel's a cut above..." London Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ a b "City planners approve 38-storey London 'scalpel'". 15 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ Financial Times, September 4th 2012
- ^ The Sunday Times, business section, 7 October 2012
- ^ Waite, Richard (5 September 2012). "Revealed: KPF's new London skyscraper | News". Architects Journal. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ Bell, Matthew (5 September 2012). "W R Berkley requests planning for London 'scalpel' skyscraper | News | Construction News". Cnplus.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Planning applications". City of London Corporation. 12/00870/FULEIA. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
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