Insurer appoints American architect KPF to design 40-floor building

London

US insurance giant WR Berkeley plans to build a new 40-floor headquarters in the City of London.

The insurer has appointed American architect Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) to design custom-built skyscraper at its site in Leadenhall Street, near the Lloyd’s of London building, according to a report in The Times.

WR Berkeley is preparing to submit a planning application to the City of London Corporation for the scheme, which will stretch across several sites including 52-54 Lime Street and 27 Leadenhall Street, creating a single 2.2-acre parcel of land.

It was accumulated over several years by real estate company Prupim, who sold it to WR Berkeley last year for £38m.

The firm’s current headquarters are based at 40 Lime Street.

The new building is expected to be about 165 metres high, making it comparable to 20 Fenchurch Street.

The area in and around Lime Street and Lloyds of London, has long been a hub for insurers, with Swiss Re taking over the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe), Willis moving into the Willis Building and most recently Aon signing a lease as the main tenant in the Cheesegrater (Leadenhall Building), while Markel plan to move into the Walkie Talkie at 20 Fenchurch Street.  

KPF is best known in London for The Heron tower at 110 Bishopsgate and designing the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC.