Walkie talkie lands two more tenants as demand for City space grows

The ‘Walkie Talkie’ skyscraper, 20 Fenchurch EC3 – dubbed the ‘Walkie Scorchie’, after its unusual design was found to reflect and magnify the sun’s rays onto nearby parked cars – is now 87 per cent let, after securing a further two tenants. Insurance firm CNA and UK law firm DWF LLP are taking 35,000 sq ft and 43,000 sq ft respectively at the 38-storey building. The latest two lettings come after joint developers Canary Wharf and Land Securities achieved the building’s first completion milestone on 17 March, when they handed over possession of the first completed office floors to tenants. The rest of the office floors were completed as planned in April. The remaining space, the Sky Garden – a landscaped garden, dining and viewing area on the top three floors, which will be operated by rhubarb – remains on schedule for completion before the end of the year.

DWF and CNA Europe will join the existing tenant line-up of Ascot, Jane Street, Lancashire, Vanquis, Markel, Liberty Syndicates, Liberty Mutual, AWAC, RSA and Kiln. The first tenants are expected to move into 20 Fenchurch Street this month

Reflecting the ever growing popularity of the city as a business location, CNA said it has identified the building as ideal for the co-location of the London offices of its group companies, due to its proximity to Lloyd’s of London, as well as the building’s amenities.

Andrew Leaitherland, Managing Partner at DWF said: “20 Fenchurch Street offers exactly the flexibility and efficiencies we are looking for in a new office building and will support growth in our three primary sectors of real estate, insurance and financial services. We’re incredibly excited to be making the move.”

Kaela Fenn-Smith, Head of Leasing at Land Securities, added: “CNA and DWF’s decision to take space is another success story for 20 Fenchurch Street. We’ve remained true to the building’s principles of offering businesses much-needed flexible space in the City and the fact it was 87% let ahead of completion is testament both to its design and our approach.”