“Lloyds of London” Building by Loco Steve is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Lloyd’s by Aurelien Guichard is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Lloyd’s Facade by Peter McDermott is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
The Inside-Out Building is also known as the Lloyd’s Building. It is home to Lloyd’s of London, a large insurance company located in London’s main financial district. The elevators, staircases, electrical power conduits, ductwork, and water pipes are located outside the building to maximize interior space. Each year they receive thousands of requests to visit this iconic building.
The building itself is 312 feet tall and consists of 14 floors. Construction went on from 1978 to 1986. Its 12 glass elevators were the first to be seen in the UK. On the first floor is a record of losses, significant ones have been recorded with a quill pen for 300 years! The original entrance still remains on Leadenhall Street.
The Inside-Out Building was deemed a Grade I building in 2011, making it the “youngest” structure to be given this status! This grants the building protection from demolition, extension, or alteration without permission from the planning authority.
It has been featured in numerous films such as Mama Mia! and Guardians of the Galaxy.
To read about more fun London buildings check out my posts on The Cheese Grater, The Gherkin, The Shard, and The Walkie Talkie.
