The Walkie-Talkie (20 Fenchurch Street)
London, England · 2009-2014 · Over £200 million
The judgement call
Account-gated at launch"Death Ray" effect: The concave glass facade focused sunlight, melting parts of cars and causing heat issues, leading to the installation of sun shades. - Wind issues: The building's shape created unexpected wind tunnels at street level. - Sky Garden: A publicly accessible three-floor garden at the top of the building.
Key engineering challenges
Concave facade causing solar glare and heat concentration ("Death Ray" effect). - Wind turbulence at street level due to building shape. - Internal spans changing from 11m to 21m, requiring careful structural design.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Land Securities/Canary Wharf Group
- Lead contractor
- Multiplex
- Lead designers
- Rafael Viñoly
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Height: 160 m (525 ft), 38 storeys, 80,000 m² (floor space)
- Disciplines
- Structural Engineering; Architecture
- Standards & frameworks
- UK Building Regulations (implied)
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Fenchurch_Street; https://www.rvapc.com/works/20-fenchurch-street/; https://www.steelconstruction.info/20_Fenchurch_Street,_London