What is the nickname of the 30 St Mary Axe building in London?

The nickname of 30 St Mary Axe in London is The Gherkin. The name refers to the skyscraper’s rounded, tapering profile, which resembles the small pickled cucumber.

The building was designed by Foster + Partners with engineering by Arup. It stands in the City of London on a site associated with the former Baltic Exchange and Chamber of Shipping, both badly damaged in the 1992 Baltic Exchange bombing. Construction began in 2001, and the tower was completed in 2003 before opening in 2004.

30 St Mary Axe was previously widely called the Swiss Re Building after its original principal tenant. It has 41 floors and reaches 180 metres. The Walkie-Talkie is a different London skyscraper, 20 Fenchurch Street, while The Cheesegrater refers to the Leadenhall Building—two frequent nickname mix-ups.