London’s iconic BT Tower landmark is to be transformed into a hotel after it was purchased by an American company for £275m. The Grade II-listed building has been bought by MCR Hotels, which operates 150 hotels worldwide, including the Eero Saarinen-designed TWA Hotel in New York City.
BT Group says its equipment will be slowly removed from the building as payment for the sale will be made over multiple years, with the final payment to be made on completion of the purchase.
The tower was opened in 1965 by then-prime minister Harold Wilson after it was initially commissioned by the General Post Office (GPO), before being taken on by BT in 1984.
But the public has not been able to access the building on a regular basis since 1981 for security reasons following a 1981 bomb blast in the roof of the men’s toilets which damaged cars and property nearby.
Most recently, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has used the tower to monitor air pollution.
The 177-metre-tall structure will be taking on a “new purpose” according to BT after it had become largely redundant in recent years.
Brent Mathews, Property Director, BT Group said: “The BT Tower sits at the heart of London and we’ve been immensely proud to be the owners of this important landmark since 1984.
“It’s played a vital role in carrying the nation’s calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly we’re delivering content and communication via other means.
“This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come.”
Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR Hotels, said the company was proud to be taking on the historic landmark.
He said: “We are proud to preserve this beloved building and will work to develop proposals to tell its story as an iconic hotel, opening its doors for generations to enjoy.”
Despite the closure, BT’s Birmingham tower is still in operation, with 80 small dishes sending signals to parts of Britain without access to the national fibre-optic broadband network.
