Two months since our last update, and One Bishopsgate Plaza has now topped off in London's Square Mile business district. At 44 storeys, the UOL Group-built, PLP Architecture-designed, mixed-use high-rise will pair a 237-key Pan Pacific Hotel (the first of its kind in Europe) with 160 apartments, all of which will sit high atop a large ground floor retail space. 

One Bishopsgate Plaza, recently topped off, image by Flickr user DAVID HOLT via Creative Commons

While the 135-metre tower is nowhere near the city's tallest, One Bishopsgate Plaza cuts a distinctive silhouette nonetheless, owing to its sharp angles and multiple volumes. Once clad, the tower will sport a series of flat facades, punctuated at the corners by translucent, glass-finned edges. 

One Bishopsgate Plaza, top of the tower, image by Flickr user DAVID HOLT via Creative Commons

The glass- and bronze-louvered exterior will hug the sharp angles of the tower closely, thereby providing a highly distinctive building envelope. Below, a close-up view of the unusual shape of the corners highlights the potential for this project to be a true standout for the area. 

One Bishopsgate Plaza, close-up view, image by Flickr user DAVID HOLT via Creative Commons

As for the "Plaza" portion of the project's name, the retail level will include shops, cafes, a water feature, and ample landscaping, with a direct pedestrian connection to the bustling Liverpool Street Station. 

SkyrsiseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.