Rising amid a thick forest of office towers, One Bishopsgate Plaza is bringing a combined residential and hotel experience to the Square Mile, London's primary central business district. Construction crews are approaching the topping-out point on the PLP Architecture-designed tower, which steps back in form as it climbs towards its pinnacle 44 storeys above the ground.
Developed by UOL Group, the mixed-use project will include a 237-room Pan Pacific Hotel, the first in Europe. The rest of the interior will give way to 160 apartments and select retail spaces on the ground floor.
The exterior's gradual series of stepbacks facilitate terraces and amenity spaces for residents and hotel guests. PLP Architecture has designed bronze louvres in various configurations to enhance the building envelope and add contrast to the adjacent Heron Tower's solid glass aesthetic.
The project is also producing a new plaza animated by retail, cafes, water features and landscaping. The new public space will connect Liverpool Street Station to the neighbourhood's pedestrian routes.
Recent images highlight the external cranes servicing the tower's construction, as cladding is installed on the lower levels. About half of the building has been covered in glazing so far. One Bishopsgate Plaza is expected to be delivered in 2020.
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