8 Bishopsgate

Commercial skyscraper in the City of London

51°30′52″N 0°05′00″W / 51.5145°N 0.0834°W / 51.5145; -0.0834Construction started2019Completed2023Height204 m (669 ft)Technical detailsFloor count51Lifts/elevators8Design and constructionArchitecture firmWilkinsonEyreDeveloperMitsubishi Estate
Stanhope plc[1]Structural engineerArup[2]Services engineerArup[2]Website8bishopsgate.com

8 Bishopsgate (sometimes referred to as 'the Jenga') is a 51-storey, 204-metre (669 ft) tall commercial skyscraper located in the City of London financial district. When it opened in 2023, it was the 11th-tallest building in London. Situated on the corner of Bishopsgate and Leadenhall Street, it neighbours two taller skyscrapers, 122 Leadenhall Street and 22 Bishopsgate. It has a free viewing gallery on the 50th floor.

History

Previous building

The previous building located at 6–8 Bishopsgate

The current skyscraper replaced 6–8 Bishopsgate,[3] a 79 m (259 ft) tall office building that was the headquarters of Barings Bank up until the bank collapsed in 1995. Barings Bank had been based at 8 Bishopsgate since 1806, the building undergoing several expansions and refurbishments up until it was replaced by a high-rise. Designed by GMW Architects, construction started in 1977 and took four years. The building opened in 1981 and was in use until 2019.

Planning

The original contested scheme for 8 Bishopsgate was submitted in 2015.[4] The skyscraper was designed to be 'visually striking', incorporating high-quality warm building materials such as wood and marble to welcome visitors inside.

The building was constructed as part of a wave of high-rise development in the Bishopsgate area, caused by growing demand for office space in the City of London.[5]

Demolition work on the previous buildings began in mid-2018, with construction work beginning on the new building in 2019.[6] The skyscraper, sometimes called "the Jenga" due to its jumble of boxes, opened in 2023,[7] and includes a free viewing platform, The Look Out, located on the 50th floor.[8][9]

Gallery

  • 8 Bishopsgate in 2021
    8 Bishopsgate in 2021
  • 8 Bishopsgate in 2022
    8 Bishopsgate in 2022
  • Southeastern view from 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate, with The Scalpel (left)
    Southeastern view from 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate, with The Scalpel (left)

See also

  • iconLondon portal
  • iconArchitecture portal

References

  1. ^ Norman, Paul (11 May 2022). "Mitsubishi and Stanhope Land Debut Tenant At Ultra Sustainable City Tower". CoStar Group. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Lane, Barbara (20 December 2022). "Arup announces four new Fellows". Arup. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ Rogers, Dave. "In business with Stanhope's Laura Collins and Tony Wall". Building. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. ^ Dunton, Jim (4 October 2017). "Wilkinson Eyre gets go-ahead for supersized Bishopsgate tower". Building Design. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. ^ "8 Bishopsgate". Skyscraper Center. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. ^ Prior, Grant (22 March 2019). "Main construction work starts on 50-storey City tower". Construction Enquirer News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  7. ^ Reynolds, Laura (1 January 2023). "23 Things To Look Forward To In London In 2023". Londonist. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  8. ^ Brown, Matt (11 April 2023). "Eight New Public Viewing Galleries Coming To The Square Mile". Londonist. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  9. ^ "8 Bishopsgate: the new free London viewpoint". Look Up London. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.