Photography: Josh Withers / Pexels
Thomas Heatherwick is set to turn London’s iconic 177-metre-high BT Tower into a hotel run by US-based hotelier MCR Hotels.
It was announced this week that the telecoms giant had sold the Grade II-listed Fitzrovia tower to the American firm – which operates almost 150 hotels, including the High Line Hotel – for £270m in a deal BT Group said will ‘preserve this iconic building for decades to come.’
Once completed, the Heatherwick-designed hotel will see the building open to the public for the first time since 1980, when its rotating restaurant closed.
‘This is an extraordinary building and an amazing opportunity to bring it back to life,’ said Heatherwick Studio founder Thomas Heatherwick.
‘We’re excited at the prospect of working with Fitzrovia’s residents and with many thousands of Londoners to repurpose this important piece of the city’s living heritage.’
Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR, said: ‘We will take our time to carefully develop proposals that respect the London landmark’s rich history and open the building for everyone to enjoy.’
