A speculative development in EC3 with a total development cost of c.£500m. The project popularly known as the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building was a 50:50 Joint Venture Partnership between Landsec and Canary Wharf Group. The Rafael Vinoly designed 38 storey 690k sq.ft office tower pioneered new technologies, an efficient design that put the customer first and an innovative and unique public space at the top of the building in the form of the Sky Garden.  The building was 100% let shortly after completion and sold for a record figure, all of which contribute to it being one of the City’s most successful office towers of recent times.

Timing was everything with the project and the commitment to start works in 2010 when the London office market was largely stagnant was part of an early cycle development strategy. This  allowed procurement to take place when construction costs were low and meant completion occurred at a time when numerous occupiers were reaching lease expiries and were seeking new space. Many of these were insurance companies, for whom the building’s location was also perfect. 

The efficient design and enhanced specification meant that occupiers could work in greater comfort but take up less space, reducing their occupancy costs. All of this contributed to the significant appeal of this iconic building.

The building incudes a publicly accessible garden on the roof in the form of the Sky Garden, which was one of the first of its kind in the City and became a template for the various publicly accessible spaces that have since been included in the design of other city towers. 

Kiran was Development Director on the project while at Landsec.