Rising above the heart of the City of London, the Leadenhall Building—popularly known as The Cheesegrater—is one of the most distinctive and recognizable skyscrapers in the capital’s modern skyline. With its striking sloped profile and innovative structural design, the building represents both the architectural ambition of 21st-century London and the broader transformation of the City into a hub of contemporary commercial towers.
This essay will explore the history, design, construction, cultural significance, and continuing role of the Leadenhall Building, placing it within the context of London’s ever-changing built environment.
Origins and Planning
The Leadenhall Building stands at 122 Leadenhall Street, on the site of a 1960s office block that had become outdated and inefficient. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the City of London Corporation was actively supporting redevelopment projects to modernize office spaces and make the area more competitive internationally as a financial hub.
In 2001, the insurance giant Aviva (then CGNU) and developer British Land began exploring options for a new skyscraper on the site. The project was commissioned to the renowned architectural practice Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), led by Sir Richard Rogers, whose previous work included the Lloyd’s Building, the Millennium Dome, and the Pompidou Centre in Paris.
The aim was to create a landmark that would not only provide high-quality office space but also respect protected sightlines across London, particularly views of St Paul’s Cathedral from key vantage points. This requirement profoundly influenced the building’s unusual slanted design.
The Design – Why “The Cheesegrater”?
The most distinctive feature of the Leadenhall Building is its tapered, wedge-like shape, which narrows as it rises. From the side, it appears as though a giant slice has been cut out of a conventional skyscraper, giving rise to its affectionate nickname, The Cheesegrater.
Key design features:
- Height and Shape: The tower stands at 225 meters (737 ft) tall, making it one of the tallest buildings in London when it was completed in 2014. Its tapering form ensures that it does not intrude on protected views of St Paul’s Cathedral when seen from Fleet Street and other key vantage points.
- Structural Expression: Unlike many towers that hide their support systems behind façades, the Leadenhall Building displays its steel frame and diagonal bracing openly. This creates a sense of transparency and celebrates the engineering behind the architecture.
- Façade: The northern façade is almost entirely glass, offering panoramic views of the Thames, St Paul’s, and the Shard, while the sloping southern façade ensures compliance with sightline restrictions.
- Public Space: One of the building’s most innovative contributions to the City is its open public atrium at the base. Rising to seven stories high, it is one of the largest covered public spaces in London, filled with art installations, cafés, and places to meet.
This combination of transparency, structural honesty, and public accessibility reflects Rogers’ architectural philosophy of openness and civic contribution.
Construction Challenges
The construction of the Leadenhall Building was a major engineering achievement. Work began in earnest in 2011 after delays caused by the global financial crisis.
Highlights of the process:
- Prefabrication: Much of the building was manufactured off-site and then assembled like a kit of parts. This modular construction method allowed for greater precision and efficiency.
- Steel Structure: The building contains approximately 18,000 tonnes of steel, making it one of the most significant steel structures in the UK.
- Elevators: Unusually, the building’s elevators are mounted on the outside of the tower, enclosed within glazed shafts. This makes them visible from the atrium and creates a dynamic visual feature as the lifts move up and down.
- Timeline: The main construction was completed in 2014, with tenants beginning to occupy the building shortly thereafter.
Despite its scale and complexity, the project was delivered on time and has been celebrated as a technical and logistical triumph.
Occupancy and Use
The Leadenhall Building was designed as premium office space, targeting financial, legal, and insurance companies that dominate the City of London.
Key facts:
- The building offers 610,000 square feet of office space across 48 floors.
- Early tenants included major firms such as Aon, Amlin, and BNP Paribas.
- Its location, close to Lloyd’s of London and other financial institutions, made it particularly attractive to insurance and reinsurance businesses.
The open atrium at the base has also become a destination in itself, hosting public events, art displays, and providing a lively urban meeting point.
The Building in London’s Skyline
The Leadenhall Building occupies a prominent position in London’s cluster of skyscrapers often nicknamed the “City Cluster” or the “Eastern Cluster.” This includes other iconic towers such as:
- The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe)
- The Walkie-Talkie (20 Fenchurch Street)
- The Scalpel (52 Lime Street)
- 22 Bishopsgate, London’s tallest office tower
Together, these buildings have transformed the City into a high-rise district comparable to global financial centers such as New York, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Within this context, the Cheesegrater’s unique slanted form makes it stand out dramatically, especially when viewed from the south of the Thames or from Waterloo Bridge.
Reception and Criticism
When it was first proposed, the Leadenhall Building attracted both praise and skepticism. Supporters admired its boldness, its respect for historic sightlines, and its contribution to the City’s modernization. Critics, however, feared it would add to an incoherent skyline and overshadow London’s heritage.
Since its completion, the building has largely been embraced by Londoners and visitors. Its public atrium has been particularly celebrated as a generous gesture in a city where many skyscrapers feel closed off and private. The building’s structural honesty and visible engineering have also been praised as hallmarks of Rogers’ architectural legacy.
Cultural and Symbolic Value
Beyond its function as an office building, the Leadenhall Building has taken on a symbolic role:
- It represents London’s global financial power and its ability to compete with other world cities.
- It showcases the fusion of heritage and modernity, balancing the need for growth with respect for historic views.
- It is a monument to contemporary engineering, where prefabrication, sustainability considerations, and bold design come together.
The nickname The Cheesegrater has also helped endear it to the public, continuing London’s tradition of giving quirky, food-related names to its towers.
Rogers’ Legacy
The Leadenhall Building was one of the final major projects completed during Sir Richard Rogers’ lifetime. As with the Lloyd’s Building across the street, it embodies his core principles: transparency, structural expression, and public engagement.
For Rogers, architecture was not just about creating functional spaces but also about shaping the public realm. By lifting the building above ground level and creating a civic atrium, the Leadenhall Building ensures that it contributes not only to the skyline but also to the life of the city at street level.
Conclusion
The Leadenhall Building, or The Cheesegrater, is far more than just another office tower. It is a bold statement of London’s architectural ambition in the 21st century, balancing respect for heritage with the demands of modern commerce. Its sloping silhouette, transparent structure, and open public space make it a unique presence in the City, instantly recognizable and widely admired.
As London continues to evolve, with new towers rising and historic landmarks preserved, the Leadenhall Building will remain a symbol of the city’s ability to innovate while respecting its past. It is an icon not only of modern architecture but also of the spirit of London itself: dynamic, ambitious, and always ready to reinvent itself.
