8 Bishopsgate

8 Bishopsgate (sometimes referred to as 'the Jenga') is a 51-storey, 204-metre (669 ft) tall commercial skyscraper located in the City of London financial district. When it opened in 2023, it was the 11th-tallest building in London. Situated on the corner of Bishopsgate and Leadenhall Street, it neighbours two taller skyscrapers, 122 Leadenhall Street and 22 Bishopsgate. It has a free viewing gallery on the 50th floor.

8 Bishopsgate
8 Bishopsgate in 2023
Alternative names	The Jenga, Prussian Blue, 150 Leadenhall Street, 6–8 Bishopsgate
General information
Type	Office
Architectural style	Contemporary modern
Location	8 Bishopsgate, City of London EC2N 4BQ
Coordinates	51.5145°N 0.0834°W / 51.5145; -0.0834
Construction started	2019
Completed	2023
Height	204 m (669 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	51
Lifts/elevators	8
Design and construction
Architecture firm	WilkinsonEyre
Developer	Mitsubishi Estate Stanhope plc[1]
Structural engineer	Arup[2]
Services engineer	Arup[2]
Website
8bishopsgate.com

History

Previous building

The previous building located at 6–8 Bishopsgate

The current skyscraper replaced 6–8 Bishopsgate,^[3] a 79 m (259 ft) tall office building that was the headquarters of Barings Bank up until the bank collapsed in 1995. Barings Bank had been based at 8 Bishopsgate since 1806, the building undergoing several expansions and refurbishments up until it was replaced by a high-rise. Designed by GMW Architects, construction started in 1977 and took four years. The building opened in 1981 and was in use until 2019.

Planning

The original contested scheme for 8 Bishopsgate was submitted in 2015.^[4] The skyscraper was designed to be 'visually striking', incorporating high-quality warm building materials such as wood and marble to welcome visitors inside.

The building was constructed as part of a wave of high-rise development in the Bishopsgate area, caused by growing demand for office space in the City of London.^[5]

Demolition work on the previous buildings began in mid-2018, with construction work beginning on the new building in 2019.^[6] The skyscraper, sometimes called "the Jenga" due to its jumble of boxes, opened in 2023,^[7] and includes a free viewing platform, The Look Out, located on the 50th floor.^[8][9]

Gallery

• 
  8 Bishopsgate in 2021
• 
  8 Bishopsgate in 2022
• 
  Southeastern view from 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate, with The Scalpel (left)

See also

• London portal
• Architecture portal

• City of London landmarks
• List of tallest buildings and structures in London

References

1. Norman, Paul (11 May 2022). "Mitsubishi and Stanhope Land Debut Tenant At Ultra Sustainable City Tower". CoStar Group. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
2. Lane, Barbara (20 December 2022). "Arup announces four new Fellows". Arup. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
3. Rogers, Dave. "In business with Stanhope's Laura Collins and Tony Wall". Building. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
4. Dunton, Jim (4 October 2017). "Wilkinson Eyre gets go-ahead for supersized Bishopsgate tower". Building Design. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
5. "8 Bishopsgate". Skyscraper Center. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
6. Prior, Grant (22 March 2019). "Main construction work starts on 50-storey City tower". Construction Enquirer News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
7. Reynolds, Laura (1 January 2023). "23 Things To Look Forward To In London In 2023". Londonist. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
8. Brown, Matt (11 April 2023). "Eight New Public Viewing Galleries Coming To The Square Mile". Londonist. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
9. "8 Bishopsgate: the new free London viewpoint". Look Up London. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.