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The Lloyds Building, London

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COMMISSIONING:

The Lloyds Building was commissioned to Richard Rogers and Partners in 1979 and was completed in 1985. The original Lloyds buildings, completed in 1928, were demolished to make way for this new building.

Richard Rogers has been one of the leading English architects for many years and has a very distinctive and commanding style.

CONSTRUCTION:

The building is primarily made of steel and glass. In contrast to the usual steel and glass towers of the 20th. Century though that seem pre-occupied with how the building looks from the outside, this building is predominantly concerned with its inside and its role of being a fully functioning working environment. Instead of floors of anonymous corridors, closed doors and travel between floors being by enclosed lifts, this building's inside has open levels, glass partitions and open escalators. The whole inside of the building buzzes with activity - a living, breathing, functioning, working business environment.

To optimise the internal functioning of the building, the auxiliary systems are moved outside enabling easier access and maintenance and avoiding the loss of space they would cause if inside. In moving these outside Rogers emphasises their role; rather than hiding air conditioning ducting within the building's infrastructure they are on bold display re-emphasising the building's pre-eminent functionality and fully expressing its industrial and business-like role.

INNOVATION:

This is one of the first-generation of Intelligent Buildings in London, so called because it includes many sophisticated technological features that manage the running of the building. These are collectively known as Building Management Systems and, because they are based on current available technology, are at risk of becoming obsolete within a short amount of time due to the rapid advances in computerised systems, energy-efficient systems, etc. The modularisation of such systems means that each can be replaced as and when they are succeeded by new and better technology and be kept "up-to-date" in their field. However, the second-generation Intelligent Buildings are characterised by full integration of the different systems resulting in a singular Building Management System co-operatively managing the air conditioning, heating, lighting, lifts, fire escapes, escalators, security systems, etc.

The chassis of the building is the skeleton on which these systems hang; the auxiliary systems being able to be replaced as and when necessary enabling the building to adapt and last well beyond the normal life-expectancy of conventional office blocks - office blocks of the 1960's and early 1970's that have no provision for even false floors for computer cabling are already badly showing their age.