Portland House facts for kids
Portland House is a very tall building, also known as a skyscraper, located in Westminster, London. It stands about 101 meters (331 feet) high and has 29 floors. This building was a key part of a big project to rebuild an old brewery area that covered six acres.
The architects who designed Portland House were Howard, Fairbairn & Partners. The building was constructed between 1959 and 1963. Its design was inspired by another famous tall building, the Pirelli Tower in Milan, Italy. The area where Portland House stands was first known as Stag Place, but today it is called Cardinal Place.
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Inside Portland House
This large building has two sets of elevators. One set takes people from the ground floor up to the 15th floor. The other set serves the 15th floor and all the floors above it.
Many different companies have offices inside Portland House. Some of these include American Express, Crossrail, and Rentokil Initial. A company called IWG also provides office spaces for many other businesses within the building. Long ago, Portland House was also the main office for British United Airways.
Location and Nearby Area
Portland House is very easy to reach. It's just a five-minute walk from London Victoria station, where you can catch trains and the underground (tube). It's also only a ten-minute walk from Victoria Coach Station, which is a bus terminal.
The area around Portland House was updated between 2003 and 2005. This project created a new shopping and eating area called Cardinal Place. Portland House itself also has a gym in its basement for people who work there.
Cardinal Place Estate
Portland House is part of a larger area known as the Cardinal Place Estate. This estate includes the shopping center and other buildings around Portland House. Many popular shops and restaurants are located here, such as Marks & Spencer, Boots, Zara, and Zizzi.
The ground floor of Portland House has a special design with many pillars. These pillars match the building's unique octagonal shape.
Similar Buildings
Portland House looks quite similar to another famous building, the MetLife Building in New York City. Both buildings were being built around the same time.
Images for kids
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Portland House, Central London
