Millennium Tower (London)
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- For other buildings called 'Millennium Tower', go to Millennium Tower (disambiguation)
The London Millennium Tower was one of several ideas for the site of the former Baltic Exchange at 30 St Mary's Axe, City of London that had been destroyed beyond repair by an IRA bomb blast.
The plan for the building was for it to be the tallest in Europe and the third tallest in the world at that time behind the Petronas Towers in Malaysia and the Sears Tower in Chicago. Its height was predicted at 386 meters (1265ft), having 92 floors, which means it would be eighth in the World today, and would be overtaken in Europe by the Federation Tower.
English Heritage had been one of the largest backers of the project until they withdrew their support, due to Heathrow airport objecting to the disruption that such a tall building would have on their flight paths. The project was eventually cancelled and the site sold to Swiss Re which created its headquarters designed by award winning British architect Lord Foster there. The glass rounded construction has become affectionately known as "The Gherkin" due to its shape and has won several awards for its innovation. There is still resentment however, by those who believed that a rebuilding of the Baltic Exchange would be the best option for the site and also those who had wished for the Millennium Tower.
