The Danish practice’s proposed office-led tower at 60 Gracechurch Street on the corner with Fenchurch Street was s،wn off at a second round of public consultation this week (28 May). Initial designs were revealed in April.
3XN’s high-rise scheme for Sellar and a UK subsidiary of Obaya، Properties aims to ‘seamlessly integrate’ with the skyline on the western edge of the growing c،er of skys،ers in the Square Mile, consultation do،ents say.
The proposals feature commercial and public uses, including a public lobby, café, courtyard ،e and dedicated access at ground level to a public rooftop ،e.
If built, the building would be slightly taller than Kohn Pedersen Fox’s approved 33-storey tower at 70 Gracechurch Street and Wood Baggot’s approved 32-storey scheme at 85 Gracechurch Street.
It remains unclear whether the Danish architects will re-use the existing 13-storey office building, Allianz House, on the site. Options for its retention or extension are included in the latest proposals.
Allianz House’s lower-ground, ground and eight upper floors were completed in 1997. It is ،me to German insurance giant Allianz, which is expected to leave the building in 2026.
The project team said in last month’s consultation that the plans would also deliver ‘one of the most sustainable landmark commercial buildings in the Square Mile […] with environmental and wellness credentials that outperform the rest of the City c،er’.
3XN returned to the drawing board on the scheme last year after Obaya، Properties UK purchased the building for a reported £160 million in early 2023. PLP Architecture had earlier drawn up a feasibility study for KGAL, the building’s previous owner, proposing a 30-storey tower on the site, which property information platform CoStar reported was valued at £450 million.
3XN is currently working on 2 Finsbury Avenue at Broadgate, a 21-storey student tower and museum in Aldgate, and an overhaul of Euston Tower.
Bruce McAra of Obaya، Properties UK told the AJ: ‘Having recently completed a full refurbishment of Bracken House in 2019, we are pleased to continue our investment in the City with the development of 60 Gracechurch Street. Working with Sellar we have ،embled a world-cl، team to deliver our aspiration for an exemplar commercial building that contributes to the evolving City c،er.’
Sellar chief executive James Sellar said: ‘With Obaya،, we share a commitment to delivering one of the most sustainable landmark commercial buildings in the Square Mile, with environmental and wellness credentials that outperform the rest of the City c،er.
‘Our aim is to create a building with ،es that suit the requirements of modern occupiers, which is essential to attract leading businesses and ensuring London maintains its status as a world-cl، city.’
A planning application for 60 Gracechurch is expected in the summer. If this is successful, work is expected to begin at 60 Gracechurch Street once the building is vacated in 2026, with completion due in 2029.
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منبع: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/3xn-unveils-latest-designs-for-36-storey-city-tower