Developer Aroland Holdings is in discussion with the Museum of London to create the capital’s tallest public viewing gallery.
The 73-floor building at 1 Undershaft, EC3, will be the tallest in the City of London when it is built, rising to 1,016 ft, the same height as the Shard, SE1, but has yet to gain planning permission.
Education space could be provided on the 71st and 72nd floor, with the goal of helping meet the museum’s charitable aims of reaching every London schoolchild.
The two classrooms and exhibition area, totalling 30,246 sq ft, would allow visitors to see for miles in all directions. A 7,965 sq ft restaurant is already planned for floor 70.
Sharon Ament, director of the museum, said: “There could be no better place to observe how the fabric of London has changed over two millennia while thinking about what this means for the city of today and tomorrow.”
Architect Eric Parry, who designed the St Martin-in-the-Fields church renewal project near Trafalgar Square, WC2, said: “I am delighted to be exploring how this unique space with unrivalled views across the capital can be used as an exciting and inspiring educational setting to ensure every child in London can better understand our city.”
A new public square would be created at the base of the tower, with a 1,800 sq m retail gallery for restaurants, shops and cafes. The net internal area of the tower would be almost 970,000 sq ft, with 957,449 sq ft of office space over 61 floors.
1 Undershaft would replace the Aviva Tower, which is to be demolished, and feature an elevated lobby over the public square similar to the neighbouring Leadenhall Building.
The building, owned by Aroland’s Asian billionaire owners Kuok Hong Khoon and Martua Sitorus, would stand next to 22 Bishopsgate, the Cheesegrater, the Scalpel, the Gherkin and 100 Bishopsgate.
The City of London’s planning and transportation committee is expected to make a decision on the application this summer.
The Museum of London is already moving from its home in London Wall, EC3, to a new building at Smithfield Market, EC1, expected to be built by 2021.
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