PLP Architecture has received planning approval for its 62-story tower at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London. 22 Bishopsgate, which will take the place of the high-profile "Pinnacle" designed by KPF and abandoned as a result of the financial crisis, will be the City of London's tallest building at a height of 278 meters. As reported by The Architects' Journal, the design of the project has been led by PLP co-founder Karen Cook, who worked on the design of the Pinnacle before leaving KPF in 2009.
Though 10 meters shorter than the Pinnacle design, the new design will contain 30% more floor space than the earlier design, bringing an added 130,000 square meters of new office space to the city, as well as a free public viewing gallery on the upper floors, a two-story restaurant and bar, a conference center, a medical center, a library, a wellness suite and sports facilities. The design will re-use the Pinnacle's completed foundations and basement, however as BD reports the nine-story stump that formed the lower levels of the Pinnacle's core will be demolished before construction begins.
The approval comes in spite of a number of objections. However, the City of London's Chief Planning Officer Annie Hampson supported the scheme, telling BD: "This is a substantial high-quality tower. 22 Bishopsgate exemplifies many of the qualities we are looking for in our landmark buildings – it is elegant, calm, and open to the public. A viewing gallery at the top will provide for workers, visitors, residents with the opportunity to look out over the City free of charge."
Story via The Architects' Journal and BD Online.
