New Skyscraper 1 Leadenhall Will Include Viewing Gallery

M@
By M@ Last edited 94 months ago

Last Updated 25 January 2017

New Skyscraper 1 Leadenhall Will Include Viewing Gallery

The skies of the Square Mile are getting increasingly crowded. The latest addition will be called 1 Leadenhall, following the rule that all new buildings must be 'number 1' of somewhere or other.

The 37-storey tower would once have looked pretty lofty, but sits short and sober among soaring neighbours such as the Cheesegrater and up-and-coming 22 Bishopsgate.

1 Leadenhall indicated by an arrow in this depiction of the future skyline. Several other buildings shown are still under construction or planning. Note how the Gherkin — once the City's second tallest building — is now completely hidden from the west.

It might not shout and scream like some of its peers, but 1 Leadenhall has an ace up its sleeve that should help it stand out. The building will contain a free public viewing gallery, allowing visitors to look down onto the roof of Leadenhall Market, or out towards Westminster.

Construction will require demolition of this existing postmodern low-rise, on the corner of Leadenhall Street and Gracechurch Street.

1 Leadenhall has now received planning permission from the City of London.

1 Leadenhall at ground level

If nothing else, the location should prove fruitful for archaeologists. The site is right on top of the ancient Roman Forum, the biggest building in Londinium.