Here, steel and glass tell a story of ambition. That story belongs to the South Bank Tower. This iconic structure has reinvented itself over the decades. Today, we will discover its secrets and transformations.
The South Bank Tower stands tall on Stamford Street. It is located in Southwark, London. Originally, it was known as King’s Reach Tower. The tower’s story began in 1972. Architect Richard Seifert designed the original thirty-storey building. John Laing constructed it. At that time, it reached 111 metres high.
Over the years, the South Bank Tower has changed significantly. A major redevelopment project increased its height and modernized its appearance. The tower now boasts 41 floors. It reaches a roof height of 151 metres.
Once upon a time, the South Bank Tower housed IPC Media. IPC Media was a major European publishing company. The tower even featured in the British comic 2000 AD. In the comic, the tower was a disguised spaceship. It served as the nerve center for Tharg, the alien editor. IPC Media relocated to the Blue Fin Building in 2007.
The redevelopment involved several stages. In 2005, Capital & Counties Properties sought permission to remodel the tower. Their plan included extending it to 34 floors. They also wanted to replace the T-shaped building at its base. Permission was granted. However, the redevelopment did not proceed at that time.
Buckingham Securities purchased the property in 2006. Later, CIT and Jadwa Investment acquired it in a joint venture in 2010. CIT received approval in 2011 to convert the building for residential use. The redevelopment began in 2013. Initially, the plan was to add six new floors. This would have increased the height to approximately 128.4 metres. The renovated tower was designed to accommodate 173 apartments. There would be retail units around the base and new office space.
In 2013, another request was submitted. CIT sought permission to add five more floors. The total addition would be 11 floors. This new height would make the tower 155 metres tall. These plans were approved. The additional floors allowed for 18 more apartments.
The South Bank Tower secured substantial funding in 2012. A consortium of Middle Eastern financial institutions provided £250 million. In 2015, Hermes Central London Limited Partnership bought the building. They commissioned TP Bennett llp for a CAT A fit-out design. This included redesigning the retail frontages. They remodeled the entrance to the central street. The project incorporated a new nine-storey feature staircase. It was suspended from the side of the tower building. These additional works finished in 2017.
The South Bank Tower has a similar design to Tower 42. Both towers were designed by the same architect, Richard Seifert. The South Bank Tower is part of the vibrant South Bank area. It is a mixed-use building. It features apartments, office space, and retail units. The building covers a floor area of 370,000 square feet for offices. It provides 72,000 square feet for retail. Kohn Pedersen Fox served as the architect for the redevelopment. Mace was the main contractor.
Today, the South Bank Tower stands as a testament to modern architecture. It reflects London’s ever-changing skyline. It showcases how buildings can adapt and evolve.