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100 Bishopsgate is a 37-storey office building located in the heart of London. Arup provided a unique combination of services and skills to help shape the design of the building, drawing on a collaboration spanning ten years.
Characterised by its glazed, unitised façade, the building is part of the evolving City Cluster. Security and inclusivity were incorporated into every stage of its design, creating an environment where all occupants feel safe and secure without compromising the building’s architectural expression.
Balancing security and architectural aspirations
Our experts in resilience, security and risk and façade engineering worked closely with the client, local authority and the City of London security stakeholders to deliver a multi-faceted security strategy for 100 Bishopsgate.
Underpinned by a threat assessment, which evaluated the credible threats applicable to the building, the security strategy incorporated physical security, electronic security, operational requirements, protective design and invacuation strategies for different threat scenarios to create a more resilient design.
By sensitively incorporating the strategy into the shell and core design of the building, we allowed for flexibility, supporting the client’s ambitions to have a truly adaptable space that accommodates any future tenant requirements to maximise the pool of potential building occupiers.
Project Summary
37 storeys of bespoke façade and structural blast engineering
181mtall
850,000 ft²of lettable space
Delivering bespoke façade design solutions
Due to the sensitive location of the building, a blast-enhanced façade was an essential requirement for the development. With the architectural design externally expressed by the façade, we developed bespoke façade design solutions where the blast hardening blends seamlessly with the architecture, unlike many high-security buildings.
The façade design adopted a performance-based approach, allowing contractors to propose their own compliant design while introducing technical solutions with an optimised cost/value ratio instead of adopting prescriptive measures that could have resulted in a more costly design.
Learn more about our façade engineering expertiseOptimising safety and security
We developed a specialist digital platform to support facade inspection alongside our design services. The database provided a panel-by-panel digital audit trail for the facade installation and provided specialist site inspection services to assist the main contractor in assuring the quality of the facade installation.
The security design of the building also included the introduction of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) measures that had the dual role of protecting pedestrians transiting in the public realm and reducing the blast loads on the building at some locations, where stand-off distance could be introduced. This resulted in a more economical design and a safer building for both occupiers and pedestrians.
© Charles Hosea
Creating secure spaces
As a building amongst the city cluster, we counteracted potential crime threats by providing a clear separation between its public and private spaces, with access managed by control measures, CCTV, and space planning. Working closely with the client from the outset, we developed a security design which blends harmoniously with the project’s architectural aspirations, while successfully answering client security needs.
Learn more about our resilience, security and risk expertiseInclusive design
Beyond security, we worked with the project team to develop a building that placed accessibility and inclusivity at the centre of its design. Firefighting lifts with step-free evacuation were implemented to provide users with a safer and more dignified way of leaving the building in the event of an emergency. This was accompanied by the creation of inclusive inside and outside car parking bays, which prioritised disabled motorists to provide easy on-site access.
By carefully considering lighting, acoustics, sightlines, and visibility, we also helped improve the safety, comfort, and sustainability of the building’s public spaces. These provided exclusive travel zones for walking and cycling that were separated from surrounding traffic, keeping the passing public safe from moving vehicles and encouraging them to adopt sustainable methods of transport.
From planning to completion, we collaborated with the local authority throughout all stages of the project’s development, and this played an essential role in streamlining the approvals process. As a result of its focus on inclusivity, the building was able to accommodate the needs of a diverse population, providing a welcoming space for everyone.
Learn more about our accessible and inclusive environments expertise
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