London Tower Design Approved with Second Staircase Added

An east London council has approved a Rio Architects-designed high-rise co-living development that will deliver 795 studio units in a 46-story block, Building Design reports. The original proposals for the tower at 58 Marsh Wall, south of Canary Wharf, were lodged in spring 2022 and did not include a second staircase for emergency use, which prompted concerns from the Health and Safety Executive. Second staircases are now mandatory for all new residential buildings in London that are taller than 30 m, and Rio redesigned the proposals with a second staircase. Rio’s designs envisage a standard layout that would deliver 19 units on each floor. The building’s ground and first-floor levels would have a café, co-working space, lounges, a gym, a fitness room and a cinema room. Additional lounges for residents are proposed for its top three floors. The 0.22-ha development site in Marsh Wall currently houses a three-story office building.