Integral Cradles has been awarded a contract by Multiplex to deliver façade access equipment for 50 Fenchurch Street, a 36-storey all-electric commercial tower set to become one of the City of London’s most significant new developments.
Fifty Fenchurch is designed to dramatically increase biodiversity in the City, combining nature, smart technology and innovative design to create a future-focused building for generations to come, while honouring London’s history.
The scheme’s key features include the conservation of two listed structures, the All Hallows Staining Church Tower and Lambe’s Chapel Crypt, which will be reinstated into more than 16,000 sq. ft of new ground level public realm. Part of the basement will be constructed beneath the 700-year-old church tower, which was suspended 18 metres in the air and supported by a temporary grillage during construction, before being transferred onto its permanent columns.
The extensive three-storey basement, spanning the entire footprint of the site, will also house a new livery hall for the Clothworkers’ Company, which has occupied the site since its founding in 1528.
Sustainability and wellbeing are central to the design, with extensive vertical greening incorporated within the façade to mitigate air and noise pollution and improve biodiversity. Landscaped terraces accessible from each office floor will provide direct access to nature for occupiers, alongside indoor and outdoor public gardens offering views across the City of London. The tower has been designed by Eric Parry Architects, with Multiplex as main contractor.
Integral Cradles signed the contract with Multiplex in the fourth quarter of 2025, with installation scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Under the contract, Integral Cradles will deliver two systems: a static BMU with a 38m reach, complete with an auxiliary winch with a capacity of 1,000kg, and a trackless BMU with a 2.75m reach, guided by a 112m guide track.
Detailed design work has included swept path analysis for both BMUs, demonstrating that the units will not clash with the building and alerting other contractors to the paths that must be kept clear for the BMUs to operate.
Discussing the contract award, Kevin Walton, Managing Director at Integral Cradles, said: “Fifty Fenchurch Street is a truly exceptional project, and we’re proud to be playing our part in delivering the access solution for such a landmark development. The combination of heritage conservation, biodiversity and cutting-edge design makes this a genuinely unique building to work on.”
“Our detailed design process, including swept path analysis for both BMUs, ensures our systems will operate safely and efficiently once installed, without impacting the building’s striking architecture or the wider construction programme.”
Integral Cradles looks forward to progressing the design and delivery of the access solution ahead of installation in 2027.
