Construction of the Pinnacle office tower in the City appears set to resume, even though the project has been described as “impossible” by some observers.
Work on the Pinnacle came to a halt in 2012 and a review process was launched due to increasing costs and serious concerns about the building’s feasibility.
Designers said that the “helter skelter” appearance was far too complex, since it required each window to be a slightly different size.
But after an extensive review by architects KPF, no major changes to the exterior of the tower have been made. Instead they have been able to cut costs without compromising on the tower’s unique visual flourish.
Changes have been proposed to the ground floor and the interior. Retail space has been sacrificed to make way for more commercial office space and a larger atrium which could be used to fit in entrances for two major corporate tenants.
When the redesign was announced, rival developers were attracted to the project, with PLP and Make linked to the site. At that point, Ken Shuttleworth, the chief executive of Make commented to Building magazine that the geometry of the Pinnacle was “impossible” and that it made the Swiss Re (Gherkin) look simple in comparison.
The new designs could still require further planning permission. But if the construction goes ahead, the Pinnacle will have the distinction of being the tallest building in the City of London.
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