The skyscraper known as Twentytwo is a 62 storey skyscraper at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London in the financial district.
The tower stands 278 meters (912 ft) tall but prior to its construction an even taller tower was planned called 'The Pinnacle', which was to be London's second tallest skyscraper after the Shard. This tower was to originally have a helter skelter style exterior but this idea was shelved due to cost issues and a simpler exterior adopted instead.
The architects for the initial Pinnacle tower were Kohn Pedersen Fox and the developer was Union Investment a fund management company. The height was planned to be 307 metres (1,007 ft), but this was reduced to 288 metres (945 ft) after concerns from the Civil Aviation Authority. Originally known as the 'The Bishopsgate Tower', its name changed to 'The Helter Skelter' in response to the organic spiraling nature of the design.
In 2009 piles were sunk on the site. These were to be the deepest piles ever sunk - an incredible 65.5 metres below the site! In 2013 it was noted that the part-built tower could be demolished in favour of a cheaper build, however the design was adpated using the original exterior.
In 2015 the site was acquired by Axa Real Estate who implimented a completely new design, which involved the central core of the original building being removed. The new building was then renamed 22 Bishopsgate. The height of the building was almost reduced to 59 floors due to air traffic control issues but this was overturned and the tower was constructed to its planned height of 62 storeys.
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