Willis Building (London): Difference between revisions

For the building of the same name in Ipswich, Suffolk, see Willis Building (Ipswich). For the building in Chicago, see Willis Tower.

Willis Building
General information
Location	London, EC3 United Kingdom
Coordinates	51.5129°N 0.0815°W / 51.5129; -0.0815
Construction started	2004
Completed	2008 (2008)
Height
Roof	125 metres (410 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	26
Floor area	50,107 m2 (539,350 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Norman Foster
Structural engineer	Ramboll
Main contractor	Mace
References

The Willis Building is a commercial skyscraper in London named after the primary tenant, Willis Group. It is located on Lime Street in the City of London financial district.

The building was designed by Norman Foster and developed by British Land. It stands opposite the Lloyd's building and is 125 metres (410 ft) tall, with 26 storeys. It features a "stepped" design, which was intended to resemble the shell of a crustacean, with setbacks rising at 97 m (318 ft) and 68 m (223 ft). In total, there are 475,000 square feet (44,128.9 m²) of office floor-space, most of which was pre-let to the insurance broker Willis.

History

The Willis Building was constructed between 2004 and 2008 under the management of Mace and represented a significant addition to the City of London skyline, becoming its fourth-tallest building after Tower 42, 30 St Mary Axe and CityPoint. The core was topped out in July 2006 and the steelwork completed in September that year. Cladding began in July 2006 and the structure was externally completed by June 2007. It was internally fitted out and officially opened in April 2008.

The building was the first in a wave of new tall towers for London's primary financial district. Others included The Pinnacle, the Leadenhall Building and the Heron Tower.

Gallery

• 
  The Willis Building exterior nears completion (May 2007)
• 
  30 St Mary Axe as viewed from the second "step" of the Willis Building (July 2007)
• 
  The Lloyd's building is flanked by the Willis Building, as viewed from Lime Street (July 2007)
• 
  The Willis and Lloyd's buildings, as viewed from St. Mary Axe (May 2011)
• 
  Willis Building, 2012

See also

• List of tallest buildings and structures in London
• 20 Fenchurch Street
• The Scalpel
• St. Helen's

External links

• Official website
• Timelapse video of the building's construction from March 2005 – May 2007
• Construction details on the curtain wall façades
• Building.co.uk article
• Project description – Climaveneta Official website