The 34-storey tower at Guy’s hospital is to receive a revamp in order that it will ‘sit more easily alongside the imposing Shard building’, constructionenquirer.com reports.

Image source

The project has been designed to make both aesthetic, practical and energy-efficiency improvements to the 38-year old building, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust confirmed. It has selected Balfour Beatty to carry out the refurbishment, in which draughty windows will be replaced and concrete deterioration fixed.

Earmarked for a sleek new look

Image source

The tower is divided into two sections, one which houses back office functions and stairwells, while the other contains hospital wards. Architects have planned for the office side to receive new cladding, while balconies on the ward side will be cleaned. New glazing will help the building achieve the trust’s energy-efficiency aims.

Metal cladding is extremely fashionable at the moment

Image source

Anyone looking around London would notice that metal cladding is extremely fashionable at the moment, thus it’s little wonder Guy’s tower, which has been branded as an eyesore, would be earmarked for a sleek new look.

While some, according to londonist.com, claim a ‘fondness’ for the concrete tower as an example of ’1970s brutalism’, the trust asserts that the revamp will smarten the building in a way that is respectful of the original architecture.

Deliver a sustainable landmark

Steve McGuire, director of the trust’s facilities and estates department said:

“We aim to transform the tower’s external appearance, to deliver a sustainable landmark design that benefits the trust as a whole and with an impact reaching beyond the hospital site into the London Bridge Quarters and beyond.”