30 St Mary Axe
30 Mary Axe (also known as the Gherkin and the Swiss Re Tower) was built on the site of London's old Baltic Exchange. This was severely damaged by an IRA bomb in 1992 and the original plan had been to reconstruct it. When it became clear that this would not be possible, planning restrictions on the site were lifted, ultimately resulting in acceptance of the Foster and Partners' distinctive design.
Its diagonally braced support structure allows the building to be sufficiently rigid without it requiring extra reinforcement. This enables the floor space to be column-free, creating an open environment and allowing good ventilation.
Combined with the fully glazed faade, its exterior provides maximises sunlight penetration and reduces the need for artificial lighting. The majority of the glazing panels that make up the façade are completely flat, with the only curved glass used in the tip of the dome.
The building has quickly become an integral part of London's modern skyline. It was designed for insurance company Swiss Re by Foster and Partners and Arup, and constructed by Skanska between 2001 and 2004. It is 180 metres (591 ft) tall with 41 storeys and is the second-tallest building in the City of London, (Tower 42 is the tallest), and sixth-tallest in London.
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