Design submitted for 56-storey City tower

Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has revealed visuals for a 56-storey tower in the City of London, featuring a slanting glass facade that resembles the Rogers Stirk Harbour designed Cheesegrater.

Expected to rise 263m-high, the 100 Leadenhall development would provide up to 110,000m² of office and shopping space, with public plazas planned at the front on Leadenhall Street and adjacent to St Andrew Undershaft church.

The project site is sandwiched between the proposed 1 Undershaft scheme, also called The Trellis, and the iconic Gherkin, more formally known as 30 St Mary Axe.

SOM’s skyscraper would join the existing skyline of the so-called Eastern Cluster, the group of existing and soon-to-be-redeveloped tall buildings in London’s Square Mile.

The new development is designed to be car-free, with just three accessible parking bays. Space for 1,200 bicycles has been planned in, along with shower facilities.

Far East investment specialist London & Oriental, acting on behalf of Hong Kong investor Lai Sun Development, bought up key sites on Leadenhall to develop the scheme, known as project Dragon.

Mark Cannell, Partner at London and Oriental said in a statement:

“Our ambition has been to create a building which both respects the valuable historic and contemporary surroundings while contributing an exciting new landmark building for London.

“As well as offering a beautiful and striking piece of new architecture to the London skyline, the proposed building will provide new high-quality office space needed to maintain London’s standing as a global financial centre.”