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London’s HSBC Tower faces uncertain future

Experts weigh in on what to do with a 45-story skyscraper that is running low on tenants

London’s HSBC Tower Faces Uncertain Future
London's HSBC Tower (Wikipedia/Danesman1, Getty)

London has a Stairway to Nowhere and, possibly, a skyscraper with nobody in it.

HSBC Tower in London’s Canary Wharf is losing its eponymous tenant — and its 8,000 employees — downsizing its space to roughly half its current size, Bloomberg reported.

The move signals a broader trend affecting commercial real estate as companies reassess their office needs in the wake of the pandemic. 

The 45-story HSBC Tower could soon become a towering conundrum, embodying the challenges faced by cities worldwide as corporations adopt hybrid work models.

The outlook for buildings like the HSBC Tower has grown so bleak that some investors are acquiring these vacant behemoths with the intention of demolishing them, with the land’s value surpassing the structures. The empty plots could then be repurposed for much-needed high-rise housing, a transformative solution in urban centers grappling with housing shortages.

While demolition is a tempting route, success stories of repurposing offer alternatives. Examples include the Parker Tower, a Covent Garden office block converted into homes after extensive renovation, and Leon House in Croydon, transformed from a Brutalist office building into residential units.

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However, not every office-to-residential conversion is feasible. Key factors include the building’s layout and design. 

“It would be incredibly challenging to convert,” Ben Clifford, an associate professor at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, told the outlet. “The scale makes it more difficult: not necessarily the height. There are some very tall residential buildings. … [W]hat will you do with the middle?”

Façades also present hurdles, as all-glass exteriors can lead to overheating. Solutions involve adding solid mass and reimagining ventilation systems.

Location plays a pivotal role in the conversion process. Successful conversions are more likely in city centers with mixed-use spaces, which isn’t the case for the HSBC Tower, primarily situated among offices in a borough with declining housing prices.

Alternative options are being considered. Transforming the tower into laboratory space aligns with Canary Wharf’s vision of a life-sciences hub. A mixed-use layout incorporating residential, lab, hotel, and office space is another possibility, albeit on a smaller scale.

Architects and developers are exploring creative ways to repurpose the HSBC Tower. Large, loft-like apartments with unique design elements could be achieved by adapting the tower’s high ceilings and expansive windows. Lightwells and atriums might address the challenge of deep floor plates, although they could prove costly.

In a post-pandemic era, commercial real estate faces unprecedented shifts, forcing stakeholders to reimagine the future of towering landmarks like the HSBC Tower.
Ted Glanzer

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