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Tower 42
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Tower 42
Tower 42, commonly known as the NatWest Tower, is a 183-metre-tall (600 ft) skyscraper in the City of London. Designed by Richard Seifert and engineered by Pell Frischmann, it opened in 1980 as London's first skyscraper and the tallest building in the United Kingdom at the time.
A prominent landmark that dominated the London skyline through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, it is now the sixth-tallest skyscraper in the City of London and the 20th-tallest in London overall. Its original name was the National Westminster Tower, having been built as NatWest's international headquarters. Seen from above, the shape of the tower resembles that of the NatWest logo (three chevrons in a hexagonal arrangement). The tower was first occupied in 1980 and formally opened on 11 June 1981 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Located at 25 Old Broad Street in the ward of Cornhill, it was constructed by John Mowlem & Co from 1971 and completed in 1980. It was London's first skyscraper, at 183 metres (600 ft) high. It was superseded as the tallest building in London and the United Kingdom by One Canada Square at Canary Wharf in 1990. It remained the tallest in the City of London, until it was overtaken by the 230-metre (750 ft) Heron Tower in 2010.
The tower was severely damaged in the 1993 Bishopsgate bombing, after which NatWest undertook a full refurbishment and recladding of the building. In 1997, following restoration works, NatWest decided not to reoccupy and renamed it the International Financial Centre, leasing floors to new tenants. NatWest sold the tower in 1998, and it was subsequently renamed Tower 42, in reference to its 42 cantilevered floors.
Today, the building is a multi-tenanted office space offering Grade A facilities, as well as restaurants on the 24th and 42nd floors. In 2011, it was acquired by South African businessman Nathan Kirsh.
The National Westminster Tower's status as the first skyscraper in the city was a coup for NatWest, and it was extremely controversial at the time, as it was a major departure from the previous restrictions on tall buildings in London. The original concept dates back to the early 1960s, predating the formation of the National Westminster Bank. The site was then the headquarters of the National Provincial Bank, with offices in Old Broad Street backing onto its flagship branch at 15 Bishopsgate.[citation needed]
Early designs envisaged a tower of 137 metres (449 ft); this developed into a design with a 197-metre (646 ft) tower as its centrepiece, proposed in 1964 by architect Richard Seifert. The plan attracted opposition, partly because of the unprecedented height of the design and partly because of the proposed demolition of the 19th-century bank building at 15 Bishopsgate, which dated from 1865 and was designed by architect John Gibson. Seifert, who had developed a reputation for overcoming planning objections, organised an exhibition in which he presented two alternative visions: his preferred design, and a second design featuring a 500-foot (150 m) tower with an "absurdly squat" second tower alongside. Visitors were invited to vote and overwhelmingly chose the single tower design. The final design preserved the Gibson banking hall and the tower's height was reduced to 183 metres (600 ft).
Demolition of the site commenced in 1970, with the tower being completed in 1980. The building was constructed by John Mowlem & Co around a huge concrete core from which the floors are cantilevered, giving it great strength but significantly limiting the amount of office space available.
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Tower 42
Tower 42, commonly known as the NatWest Tower, is a 183-metre-tall (600 ft) skyscraper in the City of London. Designed by Richard Seifert and engineered by Pell Frischmann, it opened in 1980 as London's first skyscraper and the tallest building in the United Kingdom at the time.
A prominent landmark that dominated the London skyline through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, it is now the sixth-tallest skyscraper in the City of London and the 20th-tallest in London overall. Its original name was the National Westminster Tower, having been built as NatWest's international headquarters. Seen from above, the shape of the tower resembles that of the NatWest logo (three chevrons in a hexagonal arrangement). The tower was first occupied in 1980 and formally opened on 11 June 1981 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Located at 25 Old Broad Street in the ward of Cornhill, it was constructed by John Mowlem & Co from 1971 and completed in 1980. It was London's first skyscraper, at 183 metres (600 ft) high. It was superseded as the tallest building in London and the United Kingdom by One Canada Square at Canary Wharf in 1990. It remained the tallest in the City of London, until it was overtaken by the 230-metre (750 ft) Heron Tower in 2010.
The tower was severely damaged in the 1993 Bishopsgate bombing, after which NatWest undertook a full refurbishment and recladding of the building. In 1997, following restoration works, NatWest decided not to reoccupy and renamed it the International Financial Centre, leasing floors to new tenants. NatWest sold the tower in 1998, and it was subsequently renamed Tower 42, in reference to its 42 cantilevered floors.
Today, the building is a multi-tenanted office space offering Grade A facilities, as well as restaurants on the 24th and 42nd floors. In 2011, it was acquired by South African businessman Nathan Kirsh.
The National Westminster Tower's status as the first skyscraper in the city was a coup for NatWest, and it was extremely controversial at the time, as it was a major departure from the previous restrictions on tall buildings in London. The original concept dates back to the early 1960s, predating the formation of the National Westminster Bank. The site was then the headquarters of the National Provincial Bank, with offices in Old Broad Street backing onto its flagship branch at 15 Bishopsgate.[citation needed]
Early designs envisaged a tower of 137 metres (449 ft); this developed into a design with a 197-metre (646 ft) tower as its centrepiece, proposed in 1964 by architect Richard Seifert. The plan attracted opposition, partly because of the unprecedented height of the design and partly because of the proposed demolition of the 19th-century bank building at 15 Bishopsgate, which dated from 1865 and was designed by architect John Gibson. Seifert, who had developed a reputation for overcoming planning objections, organised an exhibition in which he presented two alternative visions: his preferred design, and a second design featuring a 500-foot (150 m) tower with an "absurdly squat" second tower alongside. Visitors were invited to vote and overwhelmingly chose the single tower design. The final design preserved the Gibson banking hall and the tower's height was reduced to 183 metres (600 ft).
Demolition of the site commenced in 1970, with the tower being completed in 1980. The building was constructed by John Mowlem & Co around a huge concrete core from which the floors are cantilevered, giving it great strength but significantly limiting the amount of office space available.
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