Archetech Issue 42 2019 | Page 5

Its massing is shaped by the adjacent buildings, the history and character of the area, and the London viewing corridors, particularly the kinetic view of St Pauls from Fleet St. Further, the inclined northern façade on the Leadenhall St side allows the head of the building to dip respectfully behind the cupola of St Paul’s so that it is not visible. Together with the Leadenhall Building, the paired but mirrored gestures of the two buildings make for a theatrical urban conversation that has set a precedent for responding to the City’s protected views. Using cutting edge technologies, the structural design minimised cost and maximised lettable floor area. The unique building was designed with an asymmetric core offset to the south, creating an efficient and stylish working environment with large, open and uninterrupted floor plates. This was a key requirement from the developer, WR Berkley, along with floor to ceiling glazing, building performance metrics better than BCO and exemplary sustainability performance. USING CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES, THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN MINIMISED COST AND MAXIMISED LETTABLE FLOOR AREA.