The LUC
Opening in October 1993, The London Underwriting Centre (LUC) at 3 Minster Court, EC3 was specially commissioned as an international market building for the world's leading insurance and reinsurance companies.
On the site where a convent stood 1,000 years earlier, the LUC was created as a purpose-built building where brokers could do business with underwriters from among the world's leading insurance and reinsurance companies - all under one roof.
Today, its 300,000 square foot of office space currently houses multiple companies, and the International Underwriting Association, the industry's trade association.
The LUC was purposely created to accommodate and manage the daily flow of very large numbers of people. Its interior was designed by experts who specialise in predicting the dynamics of 'people flow' in buildings. In peak renewal season the building handles 2,000 visits a day. In normal times it falls to around 1,000 visits a day. In addition staff and contractors based in the building number around 2,000.
The escalators are not just an attractive design feature. They have a very practical function and are integral in enabling the heavy human traffic to move swiftly and easily between floors. The LUC is now one of London's most familiar City landmarks.
The LUC is now one of London's most familiar City Landmarks.