LONDON | Project Compilation Thread

[chest]

If Beetham isnt called in for a planning enquiry this week then that tower will certainly begin construction - almost immediately.

[subterranean]

Those are the most bizarre buildings to fit in that space. I can see them from the roof of my dorm (I'm near King's Cross Station).

I'm here for 2 more weeks if anyone wants to give me the insider's tour.

[subterranean]

The dreary ones are from a few weeks ago, and the sunny ones are from today.

[Scruffy]

that rooftop garden on 20 Fenchurch looks fantastic. But i still feel that Beetham looks too ackward the way its designed. I can't see it being a successful addition to this skyline. Perhaps, if they really want to keep the current shape in those dimensions, they might looks into a different facade. Maybe not entirely glassy, a granite/ glass mix or some kind of masonry.

[wjfox2004]

Lloyd's of London building up for sale soon-report

LONDON (Reuters) – The Lloyd’s of London building, a landmark in the capital’s financial district, is to be put up for sale in the autumn for 320 million pounds ($647.2 million) by owners CommerzLeasing und Immobilien AG (CLI), a report said on Friday.

At that price, the futuristic 310,000 square feet (28,800 sq metres) home of Lloyd’s [LOL.UL], the world’s oldest and biggest insurance market, would have a rental yield of around 5 percent, the report in trade magazine Property Week said.

CommerzLeasing und Immobilien AG, a subsidiary of German Bank Commerzbank (CBKG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), could not be reached for comment.

Property services firm Savills (SVS.L: Quote, Profile, Research), which the report said was advising the vendor, declined to comment.

[Mercutio]

@Subterranean
Are you a student at Commonwealth Hall? I lived on the top floor of that building for two years and had exactly that view.

[jef]

@chest, 3 small pics of Landmark East released for sale, one showing the base.
The tower is rectangular. Delivery expected 6 months after West Tower, towards end 2010.

[jef]

Credit crunch, rising cost of borrowing, change in the debt markets, etc., the widely expected and announced current property and financial debacle will affect office developments pipeline in London.

From The Times
August 17, 2007:

British Land chief warns of price falls and delays for office developments

British Land, the FTSE 100 property developer, has given warning of price falls in Britain’s £700 billion commercial property market and expects several rival office schemes planned for the City to be delayed or scrapped.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle2274317.ece

[london lad06]

A few more snippets from BL recent presentation.

International Service industry strength in London is driving occupancy rents & forward. This is both a secular & cyclical trend, There is no sign of the cycle peaking , though our business strategies remain disciplined.

Stephen Hester in relation to 4 broadgate "....whilst releasing 4 Broadgate for a high rise development due to commence in 2009 as part of our Broadgate 2020 masterplan."

Construction of 122LH to commence in September.

[wjfox2004]

Click here for a MASSIVE panorama of the London skyline, taken a couple of weeks ago -

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...&postcount=380

Numerous different projects can be seen here, including a demolition crane on the LBT site.

(17458 × 2904 pixels, courtesy of Diliff on Wikipedia)

[Swede]

Saw that pan on SSC, not just an amazing view of London but also very very fine work in creating the pan (no weird stitching or warping that I could see at all).

Also, what's up with Crossrail? I saw it got approval from the goverment. which reminds me, are the long-term plans for Crossrail 2 & 3 around (even if they are for the looong term) or have they been scrapped altogether?

[wjfox2004]

^ Yep, Crossrail is approved. It's the biggest rail project in the northern hemisphere. Not sure about Crossrail 2/3.


Here's a new proposal for West London - The Broadway Leaf.

143m/40 floors

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1140

[Jonovision]

Great tower! And the base is amazing! So very open, I love it!

[wjfox2004]

Skanska has just been awarded the contract to build the Heron Tower... this tower is now 100% certain.


---


STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 31, 2007
Regulatory News:

Skanska (STO:SKAB) today has been awarded the contract to
construct Heron Tower in the City of London by the trustees of the
Heron Tower Property Unit Trust. The contract value is around GBP 242
M, about SEK 3.3 billion, which is included in order bookings for the
fourth quarter of 2007.

When complete, Heron Tower will be one of the tallest towers in
the City of London with its 46 storey's rising to a height of over 202
metres. At the top of the building sits an elegant mast giving an
overall height of 242 metres.

The new Heron Tower development is being constructed at 110
Bishopsgate in the City of London and demolition of the existing
buildings is already underway. Skanska has also been involved since
last spring, under a pre-construction services agreement in the design
process which included key components of the tower such as cladding,
structural steel, mechanical and electrical services and lifts along
with strategic logistical planning which will contribute to a
successful delivery of the tower.

The main construction work will start at the beginning of 2008,
with both the sub-structure and super-structure works being carried
out in parallel to achieve an overall shortened build period. The
project is scheduled to be completed in early 2011.

Skanska has combined its skills to offer its client a total
building solution, which incorporates expertise from all of its
operating units: mechanical, electrical, plumbing and IT services,
piling, steel decking, suspended ceilings and engineering resources.

Heron Tower heralds a long series of Skanska projects contributing
to a renewal of the London skyline, such as 30 St Mary Axe, The
Ministry of Defence's Headquarters on Whitehall, Moorhouse and
Palestra.

In addition, the company is currently working on Queen Anne's
Gate, One Kingdom Street and PaddingtonCentral. As earlier reported,
work has begun on a number of new projects during 2007, totaling GBP
332 M, about SEK 4.5 billion. These include Crown Place, Dashwood
House, Gresham Street and The Walbrook.

Skanska UK reported revenues of SEK 12.3 billion in 2006, with
about 5,500 employees. The company is active in building and civil
construction, utilities and building services. Skanska is also a
leader in the British program for private public partnerships, PFI
(Private Finance Initiative).

[wjfox2004]

Cladding has reached the final floor on the southern side of the Broadgate Tower -

[wjfox2004]

And here are some STUNNING views from the roof, taken by mukkjoy on SSC -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/17589045@N07/

[Fabb]

The Broadway Leaf looks really good. Imaginative and elegant.

[Fabb]

The shard of glass, a good news released today :

The Qatari government is understood to be close to buying most of the troubled Shard of Glass development, increasing the likelihood that Italian architect Renzo Piano's vision will be realised.

Under the deal, the Qataris will take about 80pc of the £400m development, buying out stakes owned by Syrian-born Simon Halabi and property company CLS.

This will leave Irvine Sellar, who has been working on the 600,000 sq.ft tower for many years, with a minority interest.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...cnshard124.xml

[wjfox2004]

Broadgate Tower is nearly externally complete now. This was taken today, by me -

[wjfox2004]

3 new office towers proposed for Canary Wharf. The architect is Rogers.

Heights are 198m/147m/95m.