8 Canada Square

8 Canada Square stands in Canary Wharf, a business district beside the Isle of Dogs in London’s Borough of Tower Hamlets. The forty-five-storey tower is the global headquarters of HSBC, one of the world’s largest banks. Its glass façade reflects the sky and the surrounding waters of the dock. The building was designed by Norman Foster, who had also designed HSBC’s former headquarters in Hong Kong. Construction began in January 1999 and finished in 2002, with phased occupation completed by February 2003. A topping-out ceremony in March 2001 marked the final steel girder being hoisted in by workers and journalists. The tower is worth the journey for its scale and the events that have taken place there. In April 2007 it became the first British building to sell for more than £1bn, later bought back by HSBC in 2008 for £250m profit. It was sold again in 2009 to South Korea’s National Pension Service and then in 2014 to Qatar Investment Authority for over £1.1bn. The building has also been the site of serious incidents, including a crane collapse in May 2000 that killed three workmen. A memorial plaque under a tree opposite the tower remembers Michael Whittard, Martin Burgess and Peter Clark. Visitors find a tower whose entrance is guarded by two bronze lions named Stephen and Stitt. The lions were cast nearby in Limehouse and installed for the building’s opening. Inside, the lobby features large glass panels and modern signage that glows white at night. The North Colonnade area beside the tower was once closed after glass fell from high floors. Plans now exist to repurpose the building after HSBC leaves in 2027, adding retail, leisure and residential space with a viewing deck. Until then, the tower remains a landmark of Canary Wharf’s skyline.