8 Bishopsgate
| 8 Bishopsgate | |
|---|---|
 8 Bishopsgate in 2023 | |
 | |
| Alternative names | The Jenga, Prussian Blue, 150 Leadenhall Street, 6–8 Bishopsgate |
| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Architectural style | Contemporary modern |
| Location | 8 Bishopsgate, City of London EC2N 4BQ |
| Coordinates | 51°30′52″N 0°05′00″W / 51.5145°N 0.0834°W |
| Construction started | 2019 |
| Completed | 2023 |
| Height | 204 m (669 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 51 |
| Lifts/elevators | 8 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | WilkinsonEyre |
| Developer | Mitsubishi Estate Stanhope plc[1] |
| Structural engineer | Arup[2] |
| Services engineer | Arup[2] |
| Website | |
| 8bishopsgate.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[edit]
Previous building[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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The previous building located at 6-8 Bishopsgate -
8 Bishopsgate in 2021 -
8 Bishopsgate in 2022 -
8 Bishopsgate in 2023 -
Southeastern view from 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate, with The Scalpel (left)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Norman, Paul (11 May 2022). "Mitsubishi and Stanhope Land Debut Tenant At Ultra Sustainable City Tower". CoStar Group. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "8 Bishopsgate". Skyscraper Center. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "8 Bishopsgate: the new free London viewpoint". Look Up London. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.