London, United Kingdom

Led by William Pedersen and Dominic Dunn, the American Prize for Architecture laureate office of KPF has completed 52 Lime Street, also known as “The Scalpel”—a striking new office tower in the heart of the City of London.

At 42 storeys, 52 Lime Street is a tall, yet sympathetic addition to the City cluster, designed with particular regard to distant and local views.

The new tower recently won a 2020 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum.

The simple geometric form is reinforced by partially reflective glass and bright metallic fold lines.

Its form enabled improvements to the north-south route through the city block and the creation of a new public plaza, recalling Lime Street Square, which was lost in the 1940s, at the center of a group of buildings that includes Lloyds of London and the Willis Building.

The tower leans away from Leadenhall so as to be invisible behind the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral when approached from the west on Fleet Street, and the roofline falls away sharply to the south in recognition of the overall composition of the City cluster.

The provision of high-quality, modern and sustainable office space is appropriate for the building’s location in the heart of the City’s insurance district and supports the City’s position as one of the world’s leading international and business centres.

“In London, the City Cluster has created, in effect, a type of urban drama,” said William Pedersen.

“Each participant is unique, but collectively they make an architectural conversation. 52 Lime Street leans back to respect the view corridor for St Paul’s Cathedral, creating a paired, but mirrored, gesture with the Leadenhall Building which makes for a theatrical urban conversation.”

“Giving our building a folded, origami-like quality, was the impetus for its form. As it rises, it folds back to mount to a point on the sky. As always, we intend for our tall buildings to be social participants in their contexts. Never have we had the opportunity to add one of our tall buildings to a context of such richness and drama.”

At the outset of the project, the City Cluster was in its infancy. Working with the planning authorities, KPF demonstrated the potential for a tall building on the site that would maintain the street edge, preserve protected views of St Paul’s Cathedral and enhance the public realm.

Interior spaces, such as the double-height entrance lobby, lift lobbies, lift interiors and washrooms, feature timeless modern design and detailing, using a palette of high-quality natural materials.

An illuminated ceiling to the triple-height atrium above the escalators, emulates natural daylight.

Provision has been made for an independent coffee shop at ground floor level, overlooking the new public space, to activate and enliven the immediate area.

Four allegorical stone relief panels – the Woodford Stones – representing the classical elements of earth, air, fire and water, have been incorporated in the façade of 52 Lime Street.

Commissioned from the renowned sculptor James Woodford for the previous Lloyd’s building, which opened in 1957, the stones had been moved to the party wall of the former 52-54 Lime Street. They were relocated to 52 Lime Street as part of the new development.

Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC.
Design Team: Dominic Dunn, Charles Ippolito, John McIntyre, Dennis Hill, Maria Banasiak, Freja Bao, Sam Edward, Michael Linx, Charles Olsen, Paul Simovic, Natalie Ward, Preety Anand, Simon Bennet, Andrea Gamba, Nicholas Kehagias, Danlu Li, Joan Lin, Concepcion Martin Jimenez, Luuc Schutte, Xiaoxi Song, and Thomas Zapoticzny
Clients: WRBC Development, Property Group Partners
Photographers: Hufton + Crow, Timothy Soar