Southbank Tower on the rise with steel

One of the largest construction projects to be undertaken in central London this century is currently under way on the south bank of the River Thames.

Situated between the London Eye and Waterloo Station, Southbank Place covers an area of more than 400,000m² and consists of two commercial blocks, four residential towers along with new retail units, restaurants and cafés, all of which are located around the existing Shell Tower, which will become one of the centerpieces when the project completes 2019.

The two steel-framed commercial blocks are currently being erected by Severfield on behalf of main contractor Canary Wharf Contractors.

Known as One and Two Southbank Place the structures consist of 11 floors and 17 floors respectively, and will require a total of 6,300t of steelwork.

Number One will be a new landmark headquarters for Shell International’s downstream business. It is already fully pre-let to Shell for 20 years and consists of 83,190m² of office space and two retail units on the ground floor. Two bridges will link this building with the adjacent Shell Tower.

Two Southbank Place is a 90,730m² speculative office and retail development that property investment company Almacantar is marketing and leasing to occupiers.

Both buildings are aiming to achieve a BREEAM “Excellent’ rating, and are due to complete towards the end of 2018.