London’s innovative Twentytwo is a model for building smarter, faster and safer
When completed next year, Twentytwo, an innovative new development located minutes from the new London Liverpool Street Crossrail station, will stand 278 metres tall and showcase a number of new construction solutions in a challenging historic and densely populated urban environment. Developers, planners and architects around the world can turn to Twentytwo as a model case in building smarter, faster and safer.
In 1990, there were just ten ‘megacities’ (cities of over 10 million). By 2015, that figure had jumped to 28, accounting for 12% of the world’s urban inhabitants. People are moving to urban centres attracted by the lifestyle and range of opportunities they offer, however more people on the pavements and soaring land prices mean new buildings need to head skywards.
New construction technologies drive tall building innovation
The ability to build higher has long been linked to advances in elevator technologies. Today, elevators are integral to constructing megastructures and moving the millions of tenants who use these buildings.
Twentytwo has over 1,100 men, women and engineers working on the site and when fully occupied will be home to a 12,000-strong workers and visitors so the elevator solution is critical. For this reason, the developers turned to Otis for its SkyBuild® elevator system.
OTIS Skybuild and Twentytwo Bishopsgate
Installed at the beginning of construction, the SkyBuild elevator facilitates movement of crews and tools quickly and safely – around eight times faster than a standard goods lift – without the need of a crane or external lift or exposure to weather which can also stall construction. The elevator’s unique hydraulic piston system enables the lift’s mechanical system to climb one floor at a time in step with the building’s construction. When complete, the SkyBuild elevators at Twentytwo will quickly transition for service as SkyRise® elevators, Otis’ premier elevator for the world’s tallest buildings, bringing the Twentytwo’s total elevator count to 57.
The City of London’s medieval street layout and estimated 400,000 daily commuter population pose additional challenges at Twentytwo. By moving people and materials around the site quickly, SkyBuild enables developers to reduce the disruption to the local environment and community caused by goods delivery. SkyBuild is fully integrated into the site’s logistics which results in better productivity and lower costs.
London ready for business
The British capital has a record 510 towers over 20 storeys either in planning or under construction, up from 455 tall buildings in 2016.
Twentytwo will be 130,000 sqm of offices, social spaces and public realm and brings with it designs aimed to reflect changes in the workplace, the City and its tenants. With this in mind, the team behind Twentytwo designed the 62-storey building mindful of what the occupiers of the 2030s and beyond will want. Twentytwo signals to the world that London is active and that the city welcomes people to come here and work, to learn, to have fun.
Otis
Otis is the world’s leading manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Founded more than 160 years ago by the inventor of the safety elevator, Otis offers products and services through its companies in more than 200 countries and territories. Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. By combining a passion for science with precision engineering, the company is creating smart, sustainable solutions the world needs.
