The bold and inventive structure of 22 Bishopsgate is set to create a remarkable new landmark for the financial district of London City. CoxGomyl’s portfolio of successful high-quality building maintenance systems has earned them a strong reputation for delivering the kind of safe, reliable and cost-effective access solutions required by a challenging project such as this.
With 62 storeys reaching 278 metres over the historic London streets, 22 Bishopsgate will become the tallest building in the City of London. In addition to the scale of the building, the striking design by PLP Architecture features numerous angled sections which create a faceted glass facade texture. A number of terraces and canopies at various levels also help define the intricate faceted exterior. Overall, the building is comprised of no fewer than 23 sides to the facade. In addition, the tower also presents external diagonal bracing which provides structural stability for the steel frame and pre-cast floors while also forming a key aesthetic feature.
This technically challenging project required a comprehensive building maintenance system with four Building Maintenance Units (BMU) to deliver complete facade coverage. The complexity of the building’s form and the limited space available for building maintenance unit operation, also required CoxGomyl to design a system that provided additional flexibility and functionality through four lifting tables.
Starting at level 62, two matching BMUs are designed to travel on twin tracks. Both provide for a 20.8 metre outreach with three stage telescopic jibs and jib slewing. Two double deck lifting tables allow for the building maintenance units to rise 4.3 metres. Further down the building, two building maintenance units are located at level 59. Both BMUs travel on twin tracks, with one providing a three stage telescopic slewing jib for an outreach of 15.5 metres and the second building maintenance unit providing a six metre outreach with mono slewing. Once again, two double deck lifting tables at this level allow the BMUs to be raised up 4.4 metres. The system required precise
calculations to allow the two building maintenance units at each level to share the same track and navigate through each working position safely and reliably.
The functionality of the lifting tables was a vital feature of the design. This involved close coordination with the other teams involved in the construction, through which CoxGomyl were able to develop a system where the lifting tables are supported by concrete plinths and columns and tied in to the building structure. This made the lifting table equipment lighter than was anticipated and provided for a more economical solution without any loss of functionality.
For custom solutions to standard building projects, CoxGomyl has a wide range of façade access products to suit varying needs.
