Tall & Urban News

Currently under consultation for planning later this year, a 54-story design proposal has been shared. Developer Brookfield Properties has engaged RSHP for the office building designs which invole replacing a 28-story block at 99 Bishopsgate, nearly doubling the height.

Early stage designs have been stated to  keep the existing basement structure and the practice is projecting to maintain 48 percent of the existing building’s mass.

The office building would provide 97,000 square meters of floorspace and around 2,000 square meters of retail and cafe space at ground level.

Biophilia approaches in the design such as plantings and terraces accross all floors increase wellbeing and biodiversity, and are a unique feature to the building.

An additional standalone six-story structure would provide cultural uses aimed at young people and families, including a gallery, recording studios, and rehearsal space.

This space has been co-designed with local 18 to 25-year-olds and features an aerial image of London on the façade, consultation documents say.

The existing building at 99 Bishopsgate was completed in 1976 to designs by GMW Architects and then occupied by HSBC before its move to Canary Wharf. Refurbishment took place in 1994 following the detonation of a truck bomb by the Provisional IRA outside the building. In 2012, 13,000 square meters of vacant office space in the tower received a new Category A fit-out and, in 2013, a new entrance façade and reception were completed, designed by Perkins+Will.

The plans are due to be submitted later this summer. The ongoing consultation will run until 15 April.

Read more about this story from Architect's Journal.