We had the directions to go to Heron Tower in Bishops Gate Wow!! we just don’t know what was ahead of us. Instruction to get the tube to Liverpool Street didn’t give us a clue. We have never been here before . A board meeting had been arranged for Ray and I to meet the rest of the team to talk. It’s amazing that these office spaces can be booked by anyone. London must be full of such buildings. I always thought that companies owned the whole building but it doesn’t work like that. We are learning about the modern business world all the time.
Heron Tower also known as Salesforce Tower – in Bishopsgate, just a short walk from Liverpool Street station – is the tallest skyscraper in the city of London. Along with the Gherkin and the Scalpel, it’s another iconic building we have built for the capital.
At 202m high – 230m with the mast – it shows off our talent for constructing skyscrapers. It is a true London icon, from its lobby with Britain’s largest privately-owned aquarium, to the breath-taking scenic views of London from SushiSamba and other leisure destinations at the top of the building.
Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the award-winning tower provides a mixture of offices, shops and restaurants. It has 41 floors – 36 are for offices – and 42,912sqm of space. Its solar panels on the south-facing façade generate environmentally-friendly energy. This helped it secure an excellent rating from sustainability assessors, BREEAM.
One of London’s greatest landmarks
Heron Tower was named as the best commercial workplace at the 2012 British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards. Gary Clifford, BCO’s operations director, said: “This award is a true testament to each stakeholder involved in the successful delivery of such fantastic commercial office facilities and proves how we pulled together as a team to deliver one of London’s greatest landmarks.”
Truly exceptional office space
Heron International’s Gerald Ronson said: “World-class office developments play an important role in attracting international companies to the Square Mile, helping it to retain its status as the global financial capital.
“Heron Tower has taken more than 12 years, from conception to completion, but the results speak for themselves: this is a truly exceptional office development in one of the world’s best locations.”
On entering the glass doors turning round and round none stop so you have to get in your segment and keep shuffling through. A glass expanse is awaiting you with a row of reception young people where you sign in and get your pass.
Then we were shown what lift to take up to the 17th floor I was asked “Was I scared of a glass lift ?”
“No!!
London is full of Cranes at the moment with so many new buildings being constructed, but it makes me smile, as it means that London is clearing out ASBESTOS bit by bit. Proper surveys are done before they demolish the old buildings and new buildings are asbestos free Im truly so happy about that.
We arrived and the meeting took place, Ideas put forward, problems sorted over the next 3 hours, coffee drunk and biscuits eaten, goodbyes said we were on our way home.
Saying goodbye to Nicky
I grabbed the cheeky Security man who was saying No photo’s but ok just this once, that had everyone laughing. I don’t think they have many crazy country bumkins in these prestigious buildings. That is a fish tank behind a huge fish tank with very large fish.
Europe’s largest privately-owned aquarium was recently delivered to London’s upcoming Heron Tower giving this new development quite a bit of eye candy in the lobby. The aquarium will hold 70,000l (approx. 18,492 gallons) of water and measures in at 12m long, 2m wide and 4m high with 230mm (approx. 9 in.) walls and will be home to over 1,200 fish from Heron Island located near the Great Barrier Reef.
Built by Colorado-based Reynolds Polymer Technology, the massive aquarium posed some serious constraints while getting it to the Heron Tower construction site. The aquarium had to transported on its side in a protective steel frame and later moved upright and temporarily installed to allow the rockwork, artificial reef decorations and operational equipment to be added. The tank will be moved to its permanent location later this summer.
“The aquarium is a masterpiece of design and manufacturing, that fits perfectly with the high quality workmanship involved in all aspects of this development,” notes Steve Evans, Development Director at Heron International. “Its arrival on site at the Tower marks another milestone in the property’s development.
We came away having had a wonderful afternoon. It’s great to be able to get look in a building that we would never have a chance to be in. It wasn’t a target of mine but it was great to have such a great surprise.
Thank you Trevor Stirling, Eman Hasan, Nicky Howe Of Moore Blatch and Harry Steinburg QC for the opportunity to visit an Iconic building and a constructive meeting.
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