60 Gracechurch Street, London, UK

Architect	Halpern Partnership - now Formation Architects
Date Built	Completed 1998
Location	60 Gracechurch Street
Description
60 Gracechurch Street is home to the personal and business insurance company Allianz and a branch of Boots. It occupies a prominent site on the corner of Gracechurch Street and Fenchurch Street. The original occupants of this building was Société Générale and the architects say of that in 1998, " ... The City of London planners insisted that the building fit in with the largely stone streetscape while the client desired a light, elegant building with maximum glazing. Our response was to design an elevation incorporating textured limestone panels with floating stone fins. The stone is virtually invisible from the interior while providing visual mass when viewed externally from an oblique angle." At some point Société Générale moved out and Commerzbank moved in. However, an article in Property Week, dated December 4, 2009, said that, "Commerzbank is in advanced negotiations to assign its lease at 60 Gracechurch Street in the City of London to insurance group Allianz." Prior to Allianz moving in the office space was refurbished by Buro4. They say that the vision for this work was, "To consolidate 600 staff from a number of offices into one new London HQ building which provides high quality space for employees as well as suitable space for client entertainment." They add that, "The new accommodation comprises office space, a commercial kitchen, a coffee bar, staff canteen, a fine dining suite and a fully resilient data and communications room." I don't know just when Allianz moved in to 60 Gracechurch but in November of 2010, FMWorld ran a story that, "Lusso has won a £315,000 catering contract with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty at their new London corporate headquarters." so it seems likelt that they were in the building in 2010. 16 November 2010 Lusso has won a £315,000 catering contract with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty at their new London corporate headquarters. - See more at: http://www.fm-world.co.uk/news/business-news/lusso-wins-catering-contract-with-allianz-in-the-city/#sthash.NL8v5Wv5.dpuf Lusso has won a £315,000 catering contract with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty at their new London corporate headquarters. - See more at: http://www.fm-world.co.uk/news/business-news/lusso-wins-catering-contract-with-allianz-in-the-city/#sthash.NL8v5Wv5.dpuf 16 November 2010 Lusso has won a £315,000 catering contract with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty at their new London corporate headquarters. - See more at: http://www.fm-world.co.uk/news/business-news/lusso-wins-catering-contract-with-allianz-in-the-city/#sthash.NL8v5Wv5.dpuf 16 November 2010 Lusso has won a £315,000 catering contract with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty at their new London corporate headquarters. - See more at: http://www.fm-world.co.uk/news/business-news/lusso-wins-catering-contract-with-allianz-in-the-city/#sthash.NL8v5Wv5.dpuf You can see an animated view of the building on You Tube.