Green London skyscraper goes under construction

New London high rise goes under construction and is greener, more sustainable and healthier than London’s existing skyscrapers

Developer Lipton Rogers and architect PLP have released final designs for the proposed tower at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London. The skyscraper will replace the abandoned Pinnacle building and fill an obvious gap at the centre of the City.

Work stopped in 2012 on the previous Pinnacle building scheme with only the foundations, basements and the lift core up to level nine having been completed. Of the existing structure, the foundations and basements will be retained, helping minimise disruption from the new proposal.

New proposals will see a 278m building rising to 62 storeys tall – 10m lower than the previously approved consent.

At the top of the building will be a public viewing gallery, which will have dedicated lifts, be free to the public and sit alongside a two-storey public restaurant and bar. The plans include spaces for meeting and collaboration, as well as a range of cafés, food outlets and a conference centre, complimented with amenities such as a medical centre, library, a wellness suite, and specialised sports facilities.

It will be the first building in London to adopt the new Delos WELL Building Standard. The Delos standard is the world’s first building standard focused exclusively on human health and wellness and assesses people using the building to measure, certify and monitor features that impact health and wellbeing.

In addition to its exceptional accessibility by public transport, 22 Bishopsgate, will achieve a BREEAM Excellent sustainability certification and a 25 percent carbon saving compared to the previous scheme, partly due to the triple glazed ultra-efficient façade.

Construction will involve an off-site consolidated delivery centre to minimise vehicle movements to the site – reducing pollution, improving security and diminishing the number of cyclist accidents with HGVs.

Supplies to and waste from the building will be delivered to a consolidation centre outside central London and energy efficient vehicles will then make far fewer deliveries to the site outside peak pedestrian movement and rush hour times.

An exhibition is to be held on site at 22 Bishopsgate and comes ahead of the anticipated submission of a new planning application later this summer.