Canary Wharf's second most-famous tower could be getting a radical new look.
Plans have been announced to knock huge chunks out of 8 Canada Square, commonly known as the HSBC Tower. The Norman Foster-designed skyscraper opened in 2002, becoming one of the first skyscrapers to join the pyramid-topped 1 Canada Square in what is now a dense cluster.
Now the curvy oblong is set for change. Anchor tenants HSBC are set to move out in 2027, to smaller premises near St Paul's. This presents an opportunity for the building's owners, the Qatar Investment Authority, to modernise the building which, by then, will be a quarter-century old.
New plans from US architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox show a complete reworking of the tower. Most strikingly, huge chunks will be removed, Jenga-style, to present a series of roof terraces and balconies. The scheme would also see a playful remodelling of the base.
Up to now, the building has been a massive pile of bank. The reset would keep some office space but add in cultural space, leisure facilities and — a rarity in this part of town — a public viewing gallery.
The owners and Canary Wharf Group are hoping to move with the times. The well-noted reduction in demand for office space since the pandemic has been matched by greater footfall from people seeking leisure, retail and recreation. The Canary Wharf estate saw a record number of visitors last year.
If approved, work would start shortly after HSBC's withdrawal, for completion around 2030.
