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Don’t worry – despite the name shame, Salesforce Tower’s in pretty good company
Hardly a day goes by when one of London’s newest skyscrapers isn’t making headlines and this week it’s the artist formerly known as Heron Tower.
Last week it emerged that the building, on the City’s Bishopsgate, had signed a deal welcoming a new (and largest) tenant, American CRM giant, Salesforce. As part of the handshake, Heron International, the steely 46-storey building’s owner, agreed to let Salesforce rename the skyscraper Salesforce Tower London.
The news has not been particularly well-received. Heron Tower’s other occupants have reportedly kicked up stink. Landmark, the serviced office provider operating from the building, has received four or five letters about the name change – some of which asked whether it was a tardy April Fool’s Day joke.
Salesforce’s CEO Marc Benioff is pretty chuffed with his eponymous high-rise.
Congratulations salesforce Tower London! http://t.co/yI1UdhnqZc pic.twitter.com/JNvSQzrhJn
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) May 24, 2014
Salesforce is on a bit of a roll. Over in its native Silicon Valley, the firm has just signed a deal which will see SV’s hitherto unfinished tallest skyscraper named Salesforce Tower upon completion in 2017.
It’s no new thing to have the capital’s tallest buildings named after their lodgers. Perhaps we’ll just get used to it? Just look at:
The O2
The BT Tower
Michelin House
The Lloyd’s Building
The Emirates Stadium
We’ve since accepted all of these monikers.
But there’s also some corporate names we’ve just plain ignored.
The Gherkin, or St Mary’s Axe, was not so long ago the Swiss Re building. Just down the road The Natwest Tower has since been renamed Tower 42.
We’ll have to wait and see how it plays out. There’s currently talk of lawyers being drafted in to halt the renaming process. But for now, let’s just be happy we don’t have any of these, yet:
South Hook Gas Tower – the Shard’s new name should South Hook Gas decide to cough up to have it’s new home renamed.
HSBC Heights – One Canada Square could be renamed if the international bank decided to bid for it.
RSA Building – A potential moniker for 20 Fenchurch Street (AKA the Walkie Scorchie)