Heron Tower

Plans are now underway to build a £500m skyscraper in the centre of London, which on completion will be the tallest building in the city. After much debate as to whether the build would go ahead, finally the project is now in motion, and the main contractor Skanska has chosen Integral Cradles Ltd to design, supply and install the all important access equipment for the maintenance of the building’s impressive facade.

SCX Ltd supplied Skanska with the bespoke access equipment for 30 St Mary’s Axe; the famous “Gherkin” building; home of international insurance company Swiss Re. It was thanks to the success of this complex project that SCX’s access division has flourished and subsequently acquired the Heron Tower contract.

Integral Cradles will design and install custom Building Maintenance Units (BMUs) for Heron Tower. Originally planned to be 183m high, identical to that of the City's current tallest building, with a spire on its roof taking the overall height to 222m, plans have now been set in place to make the Tower a staggering 242m high, giving it 46 floors of office space. This new design has also meant refined facades to give the building a more elegant profile. Integral Cradles’ machinery will be used to access the full outer facade of the skyscraper and ensure that this elegance is maintained.

Due to the colossal size of the building, Integral Cradles are to develop and install 3 large telescopic low profile BMUs, custom designed to meet the specific requirements, and blend in with the architectural design, of the building.

Work on constructing the building is scheduled for the beginning of 2008 after underground pipes and wires have been laid and the building currently occupying the site has been demolished. The project, complete with Integral Cradle’s equipment is due to be completed in 2010.

<< Back To News