{{Short description|High-rise building in Reading, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Use British English|date=October 2025}} {{for|the skyscraper in Manchester|The Blade, Manchester}} {{Infobox building | name = The Blade | alternate_names = Abbey Mill House<ref name="Emporis">{{cite web|title=The Blade|url=http://www.emporis.com/building/the-blade-reading-united-kingdom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928163719/http://www.emporis.com/building/the-blade-reading-united-kingdom|url-status=usurped|archive-date=28 September 2013|publisher=Emporis|access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> | image = The Blade, Abbey Square, Reading.jpg | image_alt = The Blade, Abbey Square | caption = View from the west | pushpin_map = United Kingdom Reading Central | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = Location within Reading town centre | location = | coordinates = {{coord|51|27|20.03|N|0|57|59.15|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}} | status = Complete | construction_start_date = 2007<ref name=autogenerated1>Skyscrapernews's building database, 23/11/09 version</ref> | completion_date = 2009<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | opening_date = | inauguration_date = | renovation_date = | launched = | established = | building_type = | antenna_spire = {{convert|86|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | roof = {{convert|59|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | top_floor = | floor_count = 15 (14 above ground, 1 below) | elevator_count = 5 | cost = £32 million<ref name="Serck">BBC Berkshire, Places, The Blade, By Linda Serck, April 2009</ref> | floor_area = | architect = Sheppard Robson | structural_engineer = | main_contractor = | developer = PMB Holdings and Aviva Investors | owner = | operator = | references = <ref name="Emporis" /> }} '''The Blade''', also known as '''Abbey Mill House''', is a high-rise and the tallest building in Reading, Berkshire, England. Used for office space, it is {{convert|86|m}} tall and is visible from many places in the town. The first tenant to occupy the building was Kaplan Financial, who moved to the building from the original Thames Tower.<ref>''getreading'', [http://www.getreading.co.uk/business/s/2064992_blade_a_different_class_for_finance_firm "Blade a different class for finance firm"] 2 February 2010, retrieved 23 July 2011</ref><ref>Paul Robins, getreading</ref>
== Building == The high-rise building was proposed in 2001, and construction lasted from 2007 to 2009.<ref name="SkyscraperNews">{{cite web |url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=1910 |publisher=skyscrapernews.com |title=The Blade, Reading - Building #1910|access-date=17 July 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419132921/http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=1910 |archive-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> It cost £32 million to build.<ref name="Serck" />
The {{convert|86|m|adj=on}} steel building has 14 floors above ground level; the floor-to-floor height is {{convert|3.77|m}}. The building's façade is a curtain wall system of aluminium and glass, and the building is strengthened with a pile foundation.<ref name="Emporis" /> The spire atop the building is a lattice frame covered with rainscreen panels.<ref name="Emporis" /> The height of the building is {{cvt|128|m}} above ground level.<ref name="SkyscraperNews" />
The Blade has {{cvt|110000|sqft}} for office use, {{cvt|7200|sqft}} of space of which was let to Gateley, a law firm, for £34 per sq ft, one of the highest rents Reading has achieved.<ref name="Hyde">{{cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/property/blade-reading-up-sale-13315990|publisher=Get Reading|title= The Blade in Reading is up for sale|date=12 July 2017|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category-inline}} * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524170330/http://thebladereading.com/ |date=24 May 2017 |title=Official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blade Reading}} Category:Buildings and structures in Reading, Berkshire Category:Skyscraper office buildings in England
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