| Willis Building | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Willis Building, City of London | |
 Interactive map of the Willis Building area | |
| General information | |
| Location | London, EC3 United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′46″N 0°04′53″W / 51.5129°N 0.0815°W |
| Construction started | 2004 |
| Completed | 2008 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 125 metres (410 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 26 |
| Floor area | 50,107 m2 (539,350 sq ft)[1] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Norman Foster |
| Structural engineer | Ramboll |
| Main contractor | Mace |
The Willis Building is a commercial skyscraper at 51 Lime Street in the City of London. Designed by Norman Foster and developed by British Land, it stands opposite the Lloyd's building and rises to 125 metres (410 ft), with a tiered, stepped profile. The building was completed in 2008.[2][1]
Most of the office accommodation was pre-let to the insurance broker Willis Group (now Willis Towers Watson). The building provides around 50,107 m2 (539,347 sq ft) gross floor area, of which approximately 475,000 square feet (44,129 m2) was let to Willis.[1][3]
History
[edit]The Willis Building was constructed between 2004 and 2008 under the management of Mace[4] and represented a significant addition to the City of London skyline at the time, 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.[citation needed]
The building was the first[citation needed] in a wave of new tall towers for London's primary financial district. Others included 22 Bishopsgate, the Leadenhall Building and the Heron Tower.
History
[edit]The Willis Building was constructed between 2004 and 2008 under construction management by Mace, following British Land’s appointment of Mace in June 2004.[5][2] The core topped out in July 2006, after which the superstructure progressed rapidly.[6] At completion in May 2008, the building was the fourth-tallest in the City of London, after Tower 42, 30 St Mary Axe and CityPoint.[7] The building has an all-steel superstructure with William Hare as steelwork contractor.[8]
Gallery
[edit]-
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
.jpg)
See also
[edit]
- List of tallest buildings and structures in London
- 20 Fenchurch Street
- The Scalpel
- St. Helen's
- Willis Tower
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "The Willis Building". The Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ a b "New tower for Willis in the City of London". Foster + Partners. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Annual Report 2006 (PDF) (Report). The British Land Company plc. 12 June 2006. p. 47. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "Willis Building – London". Skyscraper News. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
- ^ "Mace to construction manage £100 City office". Building. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "Willis Building". Richard Lees Steel Decking. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "Willis Shows Off New London Headquarters Building". Insurance Journal. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Cole, Margo (1 March 2006). "Steel the best insurance for new London landmark". New Steel Construction. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
External links
[edit]