And it could be getting a mega swimming pool
The BT Tower will remain a London landmark after MCR Hotels and BT Group agreed to a £275 million sale in 2024 as part of BT’s cost-cutting measures, including downsizing the number of offices they have. Standing at 189 meters high, what was once the tallest building in London will soon also be an upscale hotel, operated by US-based company, MCR Hotels, which owns over 150 properties.
Located in Fitzrovia, the British Telecommunications Tower is a Grade II-listed building. When the tower first opened in 1965, it played a central role in communication networks around the city, though since mobile technology has evolved, BT now no longer relies on the tower to carry microwave signals across London and the UK. For the first six years, parts of the tower were even open to the public, and it famously had a revolving restaurant at the top. Recently it’s only been open to the public for one day a year as part of London’s Open House Festival.
When the sale first went through, architect Thomas Heatherwick (who also did Coal Drops Yard) was attached the project. He’s since stepped back with Shoreditch-based firm Orms now leading on the hotel’s design. And now we know some of the ideas it’s been cooking up, including a rooftop swimming pool, public access to the top of the tower, a publicly accessible square, and new shops and restaurants.
Before any work begins, MCR is holding public consultations on the proposals on 11th, 12th and 16th May, so you can have your say here.
