The Scalpel

The Scalpel
The Scalpel in August 2018, with the Willis Building to the right, St Andrew Undershaft to the left, and the Gherkin reflected in the windows
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
Location52 Lime Street, London, EC3
United Kingdom
Construction started2015
Completed2018
Cost£500m[1]
Height
Roof190 m (623 ft)
Technical details
Floor count38 (+ 2 basement floors)
Floor areaOffices: 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/elevators11 TWiN lifts, 2 goods lifts, 2 cycle lifts, 1 firefighting lift and 4 escalators.
Design and construction
Architect(s)Kohn Pedersen Fox
DeveloperWRBC Development UK Limited[3][4]
Structural engineerArup
Main contractorSkanska

The Scalpel is a commercial skyscraper in London, United Kingdom.[5] It is located at 52 Lime Street, on its corner with Leadenhall Street, in the City of London financial area. It is opposite the Lloyd's building and adjacent to the Willis Building. Completed in 2018, it is 190 m (620 ft) tall, with 38 storeys, and was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox.[6]

The "Scalpel" name was originally a nickname but was subsequently designated as its official name, after it was coined by the Financial Times[7] due to the building's distinctive angular design. This follows a trend of nicknaming new buildings based upon their shape; for example, the nearby Leadenhall Building is also known as "The Cheesegrater".[8] The building has also been noted for its similarity to a "play" media button due to how it looks from south of the River Thames.[9]

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]

Construction

The construction of the 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) was not demolished, despite being within the block that the tower occupies.[2]

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]

Use

The skyscraper was built for insurance company W. R. Berkley and is the firm's European headquarters, occupying approximately one-quarter of the total office space.[11] Other tenants that have leased space include Axis Novae, National Australia Bank, SAP, Morrison & Foerster, Britannia Financial Group, and Convex.

  • The Scalpel construction site, October 2016
    The Scalpel construction site, October 2016
  • The Scalpel construction site, July 2017
    The Scalpel construction site, July 2017
  • The Scalpel construction site, September 2017
    The Scalpel construction site, September 2017
  • The Scalpel construction site, April 2018
    The Scalpel construction site, April 2018
  • Resembling a 'play' button when seen from across the river Thames, 2021
    Resembling a 'play' button when seen from across the river Thames, 2021
  • Southeastern view from 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate showing Scalpel (left) - February 2024
    Southeastern view from 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate showing Scalpel (left) - February 2024

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Allister Hayman (22 July 2013). "Skanska set to start on £500m Scalpel tower". Building.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Planning and Transportation Committee report" (PDF). City of London. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  3. ^ "52 Lime Street Property Summary". Property Group Partnership. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  4. ^ Peter Bill (21 September 2012). "Insurers reckon the Scalpel's a cut above..." London Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b "City planners approve 38-storey London 'scalpel'". 15 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  6. ^ Waite, Richard (5 September 2012). "Revealed: KPF's new London skyscraper". Architects Journal. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  7. ^ Financial Times, September 4th 2012
  8. ^ The Sunday Times, business section, 7 October 2012
  9. ^ The Londonist, 21 August 2018
  10. ^ a b c d "Planning applications". City of London Corporation. 12/00870/FULEIA. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  11. ^ Bell, Matthew (5 September 2012). "W R Berkley requests planning for London 'scalpel' skyscraper | News | Construction News". www.constructionnews.co.uk/. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
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51°30′48″N 0°04′53″W / 51.513258°N 0.081453°W / 51.513258; -0.081453