“Cheesegrater” 2.0
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s 57-story tower earmarked for a spot in the heart of the City of London has been recommended for approval, despite concerns over its impact on the Tower of London, a Grade I-listed synagogue and other historic buildings.
Dubbed “Cheesegrater 2” because of its stylistic similarity and proximity to Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ “Cheesegrater” (the Leadenhall Building), the development is formally known as 100 Leadenhall Street and was designed for Hong Kong-based Lai Sun Group.
If approved in its current form, the 263-meter-tall building would be among the highest structures in the city’s construction pipeline. The tower would deliver 102,000 square meters of new office space, 882 square meters of retail space, and accessible public viewing areas – along with a bar and restaurant – on the building’s top two floors.
The project will require the clearance of three existing office buildings, two of which are considered to be non-designated heritage assets, a status one level below Grade II listing.
The scheme’s impact on local buildings is a point of contention for some. Historic Royal Palaces is concerned about the effect on views of the Tower of London World Heritage Site. St Paul’s Cathedral has complained about encroachment on views of its dome. And multiple complaints have raised concerns about the impact on the nearby Bevis Marks Synagogue, the oldest in the country.
However, the City of London planning officers’ report to the meeting of the Greater London Authority’s planning and transportation committee dismisses the concerns, arguing that the tower’s impact on local heritage assets had been “assessed and is considered acceptable.” The report adds that the proposal has the backing of the Greater London Authority and was not subject to an objection from government heritage adviser Historic England.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill