The Shard is a 72-story tower in Southwark, London, forming part of the Shard Quarter development. Standing 309.6 m (1,016 ft) high, it is the tallest building in the UK. It is also the seventh-tallest building in Europe and the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom.
Construction on the Shard began in March 2009 and ended in November 2012. Sellar Property Group developed the tower on behalf of LBQ Ltd and is jointly owned by the State of Qatar. Real Estate Management (UK) Limited manages the building on behalf of the owners.
Construction
Mace Construction began building The Shard in February 2009. The team used top-down construction and dug foundations while the core was erected, which was a first for the UK. Demolition work on the New London Bridge House started in May 2009 as part of London Bridge Place. Five cranes were used to build the tower. Four cranes jumped with the building as it rose.
The Shard’s concrete core topped out at the 72nd floor in early 2011, standing at 244 m (801 ft). Hydraulic screens were used to form the concrete floors of the hotel and apartment section of the tower. By the end of February 2011, contractors poured a new concrete floor every week. The cladding of the structure also progressed on the tower’s “backpack.”
The tallest crane ever built in Britain installed the skyscraper’s upper spire in September 2011. The spire was pre-fabricated and pre-assembled based upon 3D models and underwent a test run in Yorkshire before being lifted building. By late December 2011, the Shard became the tallest building in the European Union.
In March 2012, the tower topped out at its full height of 309.6 m (1,016 ft). An observation deck allows a striking London view from the Shard. Prime Minister of Qatar inaugurated the tower on July 5th, in a ceremony attended by Prince Andrew, Duke of York. The building received substantial completion in November 2012.
Design
Architect Renzo Piano is known for his elegant, light, and detail-oriented designs. The Shard consists of several glass facets that incline inwards but do not meet at the top. The structure draws inspiration from the towering church spires and masts of ships that once anchored on the Thames. The form was generated by the irregular site plan and open to the sky to allow the building to breathe naturally.
The tower is designed to be a vertical city to accommodate London’s growing population and effort to maximize space. The program varies to provide a central functional structure for London. The ground level includes a public piazza with restaurants and cafes, in addition to areas for art installations. The office space comprises naturally ventilated winter gardens, while the 195 hotel rooms and exclusive apartments on the upper floors showcase impressive views. While the Shard offers luxurious spaces for companies and residents, it also offers public viewing platforms on floors 68-72. These viewing galleries attract over half a million visitors each year.
The Shard’s early conceptual designs were amended following the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report on the WTC collapse. The building can maintain its stability under very demanding conditions. Its load-bearing pillars, tapered shape, post-tensioned concrete, and composite floors give it a sway tolerance of 400 millimeters (16 in).
Piano’s design met resistance from critics, such as the English Heritage, who described the building as a “shard of glass through the heart of historic London,” which gave inspiration for the name. That being said, the Shard claimed first place at the Emporis Skyscraper Awards, which recognizes buildings over 100 m (328 ft). The Emporis judges revered the building as “a skyscraper that is recognized immediately and which is already considered London’s new emblem.”
Sustainability
95% of construction materials used to build the Shard are recycled. The building is fitted with a heat and power (CHP) plant, operating on natural gas from the National Grid. Fuel is converted to electricity, and heat is recovered from the engine to provide hot water for the building. The building’s energy efficiency is boosted thanks to triple-glazed glass, with a sun-shielding glass sandwich.
The building features a blind control system that automatically adjusts itself throughout the day, optimizing shading at various times. The glass in the outer layer contains low iron levels, creating a highly reflective surface that prevents heat build-up and adds a sheen to the building. These external panes do not meet, creating constant airflow that naturally regulates the Shard’s internal temperature.
Development
In 1998, entrepreneur Irvine Sellar and partners redeveloped the 1970s-era Southwark Towers following a UK government request encouraging the development of transit-oriented tall buildings. The Shard would replace the Southwark Towers office block, which was demolished in 2008.
In September 2007, the team prepared for the demolition of Southwark Towers, but the turbulence in the financial markets potentially jeopardized the Shard’s construction. Growing economic uncertainty triggered doubt about the viability of the project. Sellar announced in January 2018 that it had confirmed funding from a group of Qatari investors that paid £150 million to secure a stake in the project. The consortium included Sellar Property, QInvest, Qatari Islamic Bank, Qatar National Bank, and Barwa Real Estate.
In 2009, Qatar consolidated its ownership of the London Bridge Quarter (known now as Shard Quarter), including The Shard, by purchasing the private Qatari investors’ stakes. The State of Qatar and Sellar jointly own the Shard Quarter today.