Here at Heron Point, have you ever wondered about the story of the towering skyscraper that dominates the skyline? Let me tell you about the Heron Tower. It is also known as 110 Bishopsgate or Salesforce Tower.
The Heron Tower’s story began in 1999. Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates designed it as a new office building. Initial approval was not granted. Concerns arose that it would obstruct views of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Finally, the City of London approved the design in 2006. Heron International then secured financing. They signed a deal with the State General Reserve Fund of Oman. Skanska, the firm that built the Gherkin, became the contractor. Construction started in April 2008.
Throughout 2008, three cranes helped build the structure. Steelwork commenced in October. Most of the building was built during 2009. In July, a time capsule was installed in the tower’s foundations. Heron, Skanska, and KDF attended the ceremony. By December, the Heron Tower surpassed Tower 42. It became the tallest building in the City of London. The topping-out ceremony was on April 12, 2010. The Lord Mayor of London attended. The building was fully completed in January 2011.
The Heron Tower boasts impressive features. It has forty-six floors. Thirty-six floors are office space. The base floors house restaurants and bars. Floors 38-40 also have restaurants. They include Sushisamba and Duck and Waffle. The lobby features a 70000-litre aquarium. It houses 1200 fish. The office spaces are divided into ten villages. Each village has its own closed environment. This allows each firm to control its own temperature. It also isolates electrical or mechanical problems.
The Heron Tower is environmentally friendly. Its south elevation features a triple-skin glazed facade. This protects the building from excessive heat. Solar panels also shield the south side. They generate power for the tower. Levels 41 to 46 have air handling plant rooms. These rooms facilitate heat recovery. Adiabatic cooling uses air pressure. This helps control temperature and reduce energy usage. These elements helped the Heron Tower earn an Excellent rating. This was according to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
Initially, the tower struggled to attract tenants. In September 2013, only 59% of the office space was let. Starwood Capital Group provided refinancing to prevent receivership.
Later tenants included Partnership Assurance and Securis Investment Partners. Westhouse Securities and Harvey Nash also joined. Openwork and Salesforce.com became tenants as well. Salesforce acquired naming rights to the tower. The official name became 110 Bishopsgate. Salesforce Tower can be used informally.
The Heron Tower stands as a testament to modern architecture. It contributes significantly to London’s skyline. Its blend of innovation and sustainability makes it a landmark. It is a truly spectacular structure.