The Kiln Group has become the second tenant secured by Land Securities and the Canary Wharf Group for what will soon be a landmark office building in the heart of London’s financial district. The development has been nicknamed the Walkie-Talkie and will eventually be 36 stories and 525 feet high.
Kiln’s commitment will see it occupying a total of 78,000 sq ft of offices at the Fenchurch Street site, which is currently scheduled for completion in the early months of 2014. The agreement between developers and the underwriting group brings pre-let levels on the Walkie-Talkie to 19 per cent, with an announcement earlier this year revealing that Merkel International, another insurance group, plans to occupy 51,000 sq ft across levels 26, 27 and 20 and use the building as its London headquarters.
“This is good progress for 20 Fenchurch Street, approximately 20 months before completion, and further testament to the building’s attractive, intelligent and efficient design,” said Colette O’Shea, head of development at Land Securities.
Richard Archer, head of leasing at the Canary Wharf Group, said: ”20 Fenchurch Street is located in the heart of the City’s vibrant insurance sector. We are very pleased to have secured another top-quality insurance sector tenant well ahead of completion.”
Earlier this month, the US-based insurance group WR Berkley revealed its plan to build a 35-storey office space skyscraper on its behalf in the City of London as well. Statements from the company said it would occupy roughly 25 per cent of the resulting offices at an earmarked site on Liverpool Street, with the remaining floor plates to be offered for rent on a speculative basis.
Editor’s notes: As of August 2024, Kiln, which merged with Tokio Marine in February 2013 to become the £1.8 billion gross written premium (GWP) firm, Tokio Marine Kiln, listed 20 Fenchurch Street as its London headquarters on its website.
Up-to-date information about The Walkie-Talkie Tower at 20 Fenchurch Street and its other occupiers can be found here.