Tall buildings on tap; airport contract let.

Country’s Second Tallest Planned in London

Plans for a 236-m-tall, 68-story mixed-use skyscraper in London’s Croydon borough have been approved by local authorities, Culture Trip reported. The design, by CZWG Architects, is striking, with a façade punctuated by twisting bronze ribbons the firm says were inspired by Henri Matisse’s famous abstract relief sculptures. The structure consists of two towers connected by a cantilevered bridge, and will include 330 apartments, 16,500 m2 of office space, a restaurant, a bar and a viewing platform. Existing buildings on Lansdowne and Wellesley roads will be demolished to make way for the building, which, upon completion, will be the tallest building in the U.K., second only to The Shard.

Proposal Includes New Tallest Tower for Leeds

Leeds would have a new tallest building if a hybrid planning application recently filed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) is approved, The Architects’ Journal reported in October. The GBP350-million (US$457-million) project, being developed by Commercial Estates Group (CEG), would cover a 3.52-ha. plot that includes four sites south of the Leeds city center. The plans call for two office blocks with 26,100 m² for commercial use, plus 103,900 m² of office, retail, hotel and other uses; parking; and up to 750 residences in buildings ranging from five to 40 stories. The city’s current tallest, Bridgewater Place Tower, stands 32 stories.

thyssenkrupp Distributor Wins Bermuda Airport Contract

Bermuda Elevator Systems, Ltd., exclusive thyssenkrupp Elevator distributor for the British overseas territory, has won a contract to provide five Synergy elevators and four Tugela escalators to the new terminal at L.F. Wade International Airport. Located approximately 7 mi. from the Bermuda capital of Hamilton, the airport’s new terminal is scheduled for completion in 2020. The Royal Gazette reported the project is being implemented under a government-to-government agreement between Canada and Bermuda, with Aecon Group as partner. Besides making the building fully accessible, the new elevators and escalators will be equipped with after-hours shutdown capability to conserve energy.