“Can of Ham” Skyscraper to Be Built in London After 6 Year Delay

After a six-year delay due to the financial crisis, Foggo Associates has decided to move forward with their structure at 60-70 St. Mary Axe. The skyscraper, which many say looks like a can of ham, will join the Gherkin and the Cheesegrater and further enhance London’s claim to most hunger-inducing skyline in the world.  The $150 million building will be home to 24 stories of office and retail space.

According to Construction News, building contractor Mace has been appointed to build the office tower beginning this spring. Designer Foggo Associates and developer Targetfollow have been working on the project since before the financial crisis but have not moved forward with construction since the design was completed in 2008. Targetfollow went bankrupt in 2011 and sold the project to TIAA Henderson Real Estate. Foggo Associates designed the arched profile of the building to respect existing views through the city of London. They also designed vertical shading fins to wrap around the curved outer walls to reduce solar glare.  Other low energy measures, such as borehole thermal energy storage and energy piles, result in a design with very low carbon emissions.