Permasteelisa Group awarded façade contract for biodiverse office development at 50 Fenchurch Street, London
Permasteelisa Group has secured a contract to engineer, supply and install the exterior for the 50 Fenchurch Street development. Its Gartner brand will work in partnership with colleagues from Permasteelisa UK on the innovative 36-storey by Eric Parry Architects designed building which is being delivered by AXA IM Alts, on behalf of clients with YardNine as development delivery partner.
Offering both commercial and office space, the site is located in the heart of London’s financial district on land which has been home to the Clothworkers’ Company for almost 500 years. Designed to be Net Zero once operational, 50 Fenchurch Street will be one of London’s first fully-electric towers and one of the Capital’s lowest carbon tall buildings with new construction practices set to become a world renowned example of sustainability.
Permasteelisa Group’s Closed Cavity Façade (CCF) technology, with integrated automated blinds to maximise daylight while controlling solar gain, will be installed on the main tower, while the lower floors and new Clothworkers’ Hall feature a double-height stick system, terracotta-clad columns and hand-set stone.
It will be the first building of this scale to incorporate such extensive vertical landscaping in the City of London, comprising 10th floor internal and external gardens designed by the architecture and urban design studio DSDHA and more than 40 planted balconies and terraces, collectively introducing over 70 species of plant life to the site. This urban greening aims to mitigate air and noise pollution while improving biodiversity. A public rooftop garden and winter garden have also been included.
The company will collaborate through main contractor, Multiplex, to ensure the façade aligns with the highest standards of design, functionality and sustainability. As well as providing more than 62,000 sqm of flexible, modern office space, a new 1,500 sqm public space will also be created at ground level, integrating and providing access to two historic buildings which are currently closed off to the public – the medieval All Hallows Staining church tower and Lambe’s Chapel Crypt.
Permasteelisa Group’s CEO, Liam Cummins, comments: “This contract provides further evidence of our ongoing commitment to executing key projects in London. We look forward to once again partnering with Multiplex to safely and successfully deliver this exciting scheme.
“Our innovative Closed Cavity Façade will help this building meet its goal of being Net Zero once operational and we are very proud to play a part in the construction of what is a ground-breaking project.”
As well as supporting the UK textiles industry through training and educational support, The Clothworkers’ Company has awarded capital grants in excess of £158m through its charitable foundation, and as land-owners will remain on site with a new home and meeting hall included as part of the building’s design.