Designed by Foster + Partners, the Swiss Reinsurance Headquarters at 30 St. Mary Axe is regarded as London’s first ecological tall building. The Gherkin, as it is often referred to, boosts a variety of interwoven systems that help the building reduce its energy consumption through its specially designed architecture allowing consumption to be cut in-half compared to traditional skyscrapers. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, commercial buildings within the United Kingdom comprised 12% of total energy consumed. Considering all the different sectors within the United Kingdom, 12% is a pretty significant amount. The Gherkin is a step in the right direction to help reduce these numbers. The Gherkin is a great example of how office buildings can be just as energy efficient as smaller buildings.