Willis Building (London) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willis Building |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| General information | |
| Location | London, EC3 United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′46″N 0°04′53″W / 51.5129°N 0.0815°W |
| Construction started | 2004 |
| Completed | 2008 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 125 metres (410 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 26 |
| Floor area | 50,107 m2 (539,350 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Norman Foster |
| Structural engineer | Ramboll |
| Main contractor | Mace |
The Willis Building is a very tall office building, also known as a skyscraper, in London, England. It got its name from its main tenant, the Willis Group company. You can find it on Lime Street in the City of London, which is a busy area for finance and business.
A famous architect named Norman Foster designed the building. It was built by a company called British Land. The Willis Building stands right across from the famous Lloyd's building. It is about 125 meters (410 feet) tall and has 26 floors. The building has a special "stepped" shape. This design was made to look like the shell of a crab or lobster. It has parts that step back at 97 meters (318 feet) and 68 meters (223 feet). Inside, there are about 475,000 square feet of office space. Most of this space was rented by the Willis insurance company even before the building was finished.
Building the Willis Building
The Willis Building was constructed between 2004 and 2008. The company that managed the building work was called Mace. This new building was a big addition to the London skyline. It became the fourth-tallest building in the City of London at that time. Only Tower 42, 30 St Mary Axe, and CityPoint were taller.
Key Construction Dates
- July 2006: The central part of the building, called the core, reached its highest point.
- September 2006: All the steel framework for the building was completed.
- July 2006: Workers started putting the outer covering, or cladding, on the building.
- June 2007: The outside of the building was fully finished.
- April 2008: The inside of the building was ready, and it officially opened.
The Willis Building was one of the first of many new tall towers built in London's main financial area. Other big buildings that came after it include The Pinnacle, the Leadenhall Building, and the Heron Tower.
Gallery
-
The Willis Building exterior nears completion (May 2007)
-
30 St Mary Axe as viewed from the second "step" of the Willis Building (July 2007)
-
The Lloyd's building is flanked by the Willis Building, as viewed from Lime Street (July 2007)
-
The Willis and Lloyd's buildings, as viewed from St. Mary Axe (May 2011)
-
Willis Building, 2012
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Willis Building para niños
