Any idea how for round they are on the permiter wall?

Cool! so it won't be long till the concrete core starts rising now!

Its always the weird part of a construction site for the untrained eye because it always seems like there is still a lot to do and yet chances are we'll all be shocked when one morning someone posts a 'there's steelwork/concrete' and the shots start flooding in of something erected above ground. I'm presuming it will be very much like Heron, but with ten times the hysteria, :|

Any idea how for round they are on the permiter wall?

Not very, they have exposed the guide wall for the piles and have done about 10 of the piles so far

i don't particularly like being insulted about something that is a matter of public record and actually i'm an indie reader, but if you prefer i can link you to the telegraph or times -

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/disclosures-reveal-more-about-an-obsessive-butler-than-royal-family-584570.html



and he is constitutionally prevented from expressing a political opinion, it doesn't matter whether he is right or wrong which is why we have a CONSTITUTIONAL monarchy. you're the one who needs to get an education - you might like to start with the causes of the english civil war. either our elected government is sovereign or the monarchy is and as our elected government is the monarchy should stay out of planning matters whether they are right or wrong.

:cheers: that has clarified a lot for me.

i didn't know about the penis thing though!! pretty shocking to me. my parents had dinner with him once.

Because now someone who knows the Shard is watching YOU!! :wave:

Renzo Piano, it's nice to see you have joined us.

For real? :O Tell us when we can expect to see Steel and concrete above ground :P

And why has this thread just got more interesting you may ask?...

Because now someone who works on the Shard site and knows the job inside out is watching YOU!! :wave:

:master:

ha ha not Renzo. Its interesting to read this thread and see the photos, questions and comments from the interested passing public!

Hey Shard. You're most welcome. We often receive high profile visitors from other projects (I won't name any!) that are well connected with what they do. It's worked out very beneficial for them and their projects. I hope you receive the same success too.

Thank you for your welcome. Its an iconic building for London and the country as a whole. The first thing you`ll see being built above ground will be the first tower crane in Sept/Oct! :gossip:

Welcome shard, and thanks for the info

Thanks for that shard master!

All we need now is a Bishopsgate Tower master! :banana:

September and October, cool! Aren't there going to be 5 cranes for this?

Thank you for your welcome. Its an iconic building for London and the country as a whole. The first thing you`ll see being built above ground will be the first tower crane in Sept/Oct! :gossip:

Sept/Oct! But that's aaages away! :ohno:

Oh, and are you sure you can tell us this stuff? Not that I don't want to know it, but didn't someone on this site get in trouble for sharing stuff?

Welcome Shard Master, we look forward to your contributions.

Sept/Oct! But that's aaages away! :ohno:

Oh, and are you sure you can tell us this stuff? Not that I don't want to know it, but didn't someone on this site get in trouble for sharing stuff?
Getting in trouble for informing the people on an internet skyscraper forum that there will be tower cranes erected in a few months for the construction of a skyscraper....I doubt it.

If the guy in genuine, which I'm very much hopeful he is, it will be very useful to have someone on the site that can give us all some info and updates on what exactly is going on, as a lot of the technical construction details do go over my head a lot of the time, and bits of machinery or equiptment arrive on site all the time that I have no idea what their use is.

Mr Shard, just to get the ball rolling, can you shed some light on the purpose of the two large shafts that were sunk on site (see below). :?

There has been plenty of speculation on this thread about tube tunnels, etc., but no definitive answer...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/11June09019.jpg

Perimeter walls and pîling etc. are about 1/3 of the job isn't it? Another 1/3 to build the core and shell and 1/3 to complete internal stuff. I am not concerned at all. The Shard will start to rise this year. It is just a matter of months. Compare with this copy-paste tower in Russia: it has been scrapped. The Shard will be built and it will stand as the most beautiful skycraper in Europe in the most oustanding location. That's the way it is.

I thought the shaft was for a tower crane?

I thought the shaft was for a tower crane?

I did too actually, and considering there were several of them it would look about right.

Makes sense considering the basement will be dug after it starts rising, what do the cranes sit on? Dig a hole for them?

Sure, the base of a tower crane was one of the first suggestions when these holes appeared...

However, if you take a quick look at a (slightly fuzzy) screen grab from Mr Fox's youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDCyeX-sbVg) of the construction process, you can see the location of none of the four tower cranes corresponds to the site of the deep hole in my earlier post, which I've highlighted in red.

Hence the request to Shard Master for some insider insight...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/shardcranes1.jpg

perhaps the animation was never intended as an exact representation of events

perhaps the animation was never intended as an exact representation of events

:O i feel decieved!

The shaft that you are all asking about has nothing to do with any of the tower cranes. The cofferdam is to remove old steel segmental lined shaft that would have been part of original maintenance access to the underground tunnels. Look back a few pages and you will see photos of segments in rubbish skip. It will be filled soon enough.

Im not going to pass on any information that shouldnt be released, but I think it does no harm to steer comments in the right direction.... after all, its nothing you cant see, or will see from the footbridge anyway!

^^

Brilliant - thanks for sharing that information.

:cheers:

The shaft that you are all asking about has nothing to do with any of the tower cranes. The cofferdam is to remove old steel segmental lined shaft that would have been part of original maintenance access to the underground tunnels. Look back a few pages and you will see photos of segments in rubbish skip. It will be filled soon enough.

Im not going to pass on any information that shouldnt be released, but I think it does no harm to steer comments in the right direction.... after all, its nothing you cant see, or will see from the footbridge anyway!

Thanks again for clarifying the issues of the shaft.

shard, as you may have seen in the other threads, we quite often like to visit these sites once they have topped out and towards the end of the construction phase.
I know this is a long way off, but the question is would you be in a senior enough position on the project to organise this sort of vist say around 2011.
Hope that's not a question that compromises your identity, if it is then please do not feel compelled to answer it.:cheers:

Poor Shard! that's really given it away if he is in authority!

im just the cleaner :shifty:

Also, in Chicago the lads on that page were able to go to the building site of the Chicago Spire, and poured a bottle of champagne into the foundations. No chance of that?

im just the cleaner :shifty:
Ah I saw you! You must be the chap with the hose that washes the lorry wheels on their way out?

Thanks again for clarifying the issues of the shaft.

shard, as you may have seen in the other threads, we quite often like to visit these sites once they have topped out and towards the end of the construction phase.
I know this is a long way off, but the question is would you be in a senior enough position on the project to organise this sort of vist say around 2011.
Hope that's not a question that compromises your identity, if it is then please do not feel compelled to answer it.:cheers:

Oi! Thats my Job!! A little bit more diplomacy, tact and discretion is required then that or it wont happen at all! :runaway: ;)

Uh oh ... hissy fits on the forum. Good job we aren't unionised ;0)

Also, in Chicago the lads on that page were able to go to the building site of the Chicago Spire, and poured a bottle of champagne into the foundations. No chance of that?

don't bloody curse it eh! The Chi-town boys were celebrating too early. the Spire's in development hell and the Irish backers aren't exactly in rude health.

nice to have a man in the know on site Mr Shard Master. I look forward to you insightful updates.

Oi! Thats my Job!! A little bit more diplomacy, tact and discretion is required then that or it wont happen at all! :runaway: ;)

Yeh, I know Mark, sorry couldn't resist it.
I'll let you take over from here!:cheers:

bagsy

shotgun

Pistol?

The deep shaft that we now know was to take out bits of Tube (thanks!) was nicely full of water when I looked yesterday.

i'm going to use a nuke to be on the safe side

A little Shard Facade action anyone? How's this for a mock-up?

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/shardfacade.jpg

Oh wow! Beautiful glass!

Brilliant! Thanks Fitz!
Where is this? Germany or is it in or around London?

Not sure Manuel - no info. http://planningonline.southwarksites.com/planningonline2/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeDocs&TheSystemkey=9532473

Yup, the quality looks excellent. This is a re-application of one of the conditions of the original planning application as the facade will now be "internally accessed rather than externally accessed - with a flushed, fixed external pane".

What does that mean?

I'm not sure tbh. Perhaps someone can clarify?
A couple more shots;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/sh2.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/sh3.jpg

But the blinds are not going to be that orange???

I think we can call that a spoiler, haha.. but it's going to be a while to see that amount of cladding on site, we might as well enjoy the shots. Looks wicked!

^^ good spot on the claddage. Its going to look freaking spectacular, end of story!

edit: are the cladding people Dutch?

^^ good spot on the claddage. Its going to look freaking spectacular, end of story!

edit: are the cladding people Dutch?

Scheldebouw have it I believe.

Scottish company...

...oh, ok Dutch then. Anyone confirm that?

Yep Dutchy although I think they might be a subsidiary of a larger group now.

i'm so glad it's not green.

I'm prediction an economic downturn to maybe happen in a few years time, costs will have to be cut and we will get green glass.

I'm prediction an economic downturn to maybe happen in a few years time, costs will have to be cut and we will get green glass.

Its a common misconception amongst some forumers that green glass means cheap....in fact it can be quite the opposite.

Still looks crap, I don't care how much it is. But the new Shards Glazing looks great.

Now that's some quality glass right there...the great news from those photos is that the Shard ought to look good even in our constant grey weather , not just in the occasional burst of sunlight... :D

The former legal director at English Heritage Nigel Hewitson was the EH-lawyer leading the battle against the London Bridge Tower at the public inquiry. Now he admits that the tower is a "fantastic bit of architecture" (interview Planning magazine 26/06/09).

He also says that heritage considerations should be given less importance in the planning process.

^^^ You should post that in the EH thread too ;)

An incredible amount of activity on site yesterday. During the 15 min I was there, it appeared they were pouring concrete into 2-3 different pile shafts as well as working on the basement wall along the northern edge of the site.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09007.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09002.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09004.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09021.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09010.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09012.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09014.jpg

A crane operators' tribute to the Shard perhaps...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09024.jpg

Does anyone Shard connected know if, now that the method of basement construction is being changed, the superstructure will be rising earlier than previously planned? Clearly, there's an incentive to speed up to service any interest payments but the main contracts seemed only to be placed fairly recently so I'm curious how much they could be brought forwards?

Anyone? :)

the 6th photo down is intriguing

the 6th photo down is intriguing

Do you mean this one?

It shows the process by which the piles are filled with concrete. A 30-40m tube is assembled using the 10m sections standing upright in the white racks dotted about the site (the first shot in the series shows one of the workmen applying some "persuasion" with a large mallet to get two sections to fit together). This tube is then lowered by crane into the pile cavity and it is filled with concrete from one of the many concrete mixers visiting the site. Although I haven't seen this part of the process, I understand the tube is removed and the then a rebar cage is lowered into the concrete while it is still wet.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09012.jpg

extraordinary images. I find these kind of documentary shots more satisfying than any so called art photos - my own included.

^^ impressive shot indeed. Maybe the most densely active construction site in the world right now?

More densely active than the World Trade Center? I don't think so!

I heard that the Shunt nightclub in the arches between the Tube and station is closing, because the foundations for the Shard will go through it.

Can anyone confirm this?

magnificent construction photos. For such a compact site it really looks an incredible hive of activity. All this digging heralds London's most glorious newbuilding finally coming to fruition. I feels like a dancing banana.

Hold your dancing banana for the time being. Call me superstitious but a premature banana can spell bad luck.

Hold your dancing banana for the time being. Call me superstitious but a premature banana can spell bad luck.

A premature banana needs careful handling. :)

A premature banana needs careful handling. :)

I thought we were past the dancing banana stage on this one.:cucumber:

no doubt when this is complete it'll get its own set of Boris sightlines :|.. ya know, just to give even less scope for prospective developers

hadn't seen the new hoardings until today - snazzy!

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2977/img2670p.jpg

4 piling rigs, 2 mobile cranes and a shed load of equipment, although the site was quiet today:
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8635/img2671o.jpg

big piles
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/450/img2672z.jpg

organised chaos:
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5916/img2673e.jpg

looks like they got halfway and gave up for the weekend:
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6674/img2674d.jpg

they have now started to complete the concrete guide for the perimeter piles, and there is now some sort of brown waste pipe that goes around the perimeter of the site ( maybe they are going to put urinals around the site so workers don't waste time going for a piss):nuts:
Site was closed today.

The white tubes in the racks are called tremmie pipes and are common in piling, serving 2 main functions. Throwing concrete down a 50 metre hole is not good as you`l get seperation of the large aggregates, the fine aggregates and the cement. Using tremmie pipe reduces this. The other reason is somtimes the piles need a stability fluid to be added such as bentonite (stored in the big green tanks) as the pile is being cored. The tremmie pipe allows the concrete to be poured through the stability fluid (keeping them seperate)

Do you mean this one?

It shows the process by which the piles are filled with concrete. A 30-40m tube is assembled using the 10m sections standing upright in the white racks dotted about the site (the first shot in the series shows one of the workmen applying some "persuasion" with a large mallet to get two sections to fit together). This tube is then lowered by crane into the pile cavity and it is filled with concrete from one of the many concrete mixers visiting the site. Although I haven't seen this part of the process, I understand the tube is removed and the then a rebar cage is lowered into the concrete while it is still wet.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/30June09012.jpg

Any chance you could resize your pics Jimbo?

Perhaps someone could go down there and spray paint out Guy's?

Thanks for the info about the tremmie pipes, good to have some knowledge on the project.

Perhaps someone could go down there and spray paint out Guy's?

I think Banksy should cover the entire building in graffetti! that would be amazing :)

graffitti that makes it look exactly like whats behind it, rendering it invisible....

I did mean the hoarding but I guess it's understandable that fellow SSC-ers would take the suggestion to it's N'th power.

I'm prediction an economic downturn to maybe happen in a few years time, costs will have to be cut and we will get green glass.

There's one now...

You trollin'

I really hate the little office building hanging off the tower's arse... I think it should be nicknames 'the gruffnut' or 'the hemorrhoid'

Sadly I do not use London Bridge station every day now - and I miss my daily dose of Shard. Photos and updates therefore very welcome.

I can give you an update, they're just past halfway around the perimeter wall.

I was there watching for an age about a week ago and one of the site-manager types was watching too, some guy starting asking him questions and he brought out all his papers. One had dots for all the perimeter piles, with those that had been done coloured in.

Amazing site, so much stuff, so many people, fantastic to watch.

Here's a few shots from the site today. It looked like most the workers had Saturday off for a change, so not so much Shard "action shots" as still life...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/18July09001.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/18July09003.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/18July09002.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/18July09008.jpg

thanks for all the photos nihil dicit: do you work on the shard?

the photos are great, but the site at the moment is so difficult to discern in terms of tangible progress. We all know there's loads happening, but we can't necessarily see it until it starts to go vertical!!!

thanks for all the photos nihil dicit: do you work on the shard?

No - but if you hear of a vacancy for official site photographer, please let me know

;)

Great photos, thanks. The webcam give such a wrong impression about the size of this site. When you are there, as I was this morning, it's so much more congested than it looks. It suggests to me some sort of post apocalyptic funfair when all the machines are whirling and swinging about. Wonderful to think such chaos will eventually transform into such a beautiful flawless structure.

a key construction feature is the fact that buildings have to look good while being built, broadgate looked beastly under construction while heron looks contemporary and easy on the eye

the photos are great, but the site at the moment is so difficult to discern in terms of tangible progress. We all know there's loads happening, but we can't necessarily see it until it starts to go vertical!!!

Yes, you are right. But I will stay following this thread because it is very interesting.

When is this building due to go vertical? Early 2010?

When is this building due to go vertical? Early 2010?
Thank you for your welcome. Its an iconic building for London and the country as a whole. The first thing you`ll see being built above ground will be the first tower crane in Sept/Oct! :gossip:
Soon, although it will be slow to start while they build the initial slab. After that, the core will shoot up unimpeded whle they construct G and Basement floors below.

Ah thanks for clarifying that :)

Is the perimiter wall being built from both sides and meet in the forground?

Great project! I hope they will speed up the works soon :)

Great project! I hope they will speed up the works soon :)

Not sure if that possible, without having an accident.

You should have seen the site yesterday, there were cement trucks lined up all long ST Thomas Street, and not enough room to swing a cat on the site:cheers:

I walk past the site via the bridge from London Bridge station to Guy's everyday on my way to work, so i get a daily birds eye view of the progress - lots of large machinary and digging going on at the moment. Its amazing how small the site is for such a massive building.

One question, does anyone know what the large hole is on the corner of the site? It looks to be very deep - at least i can't make out the bottom of it anyway.

This has top be my absolute favourite London project - love it!! I was going to put a dancing banana, but this calls for something more lively.


:dance:

I spend a good 20 minutes on the foot bridge every time I'm passing, there are alway a couple of people watching with intrest. The next 6 months are going to be hot... :happy::happy:

One question, does anyone know what the large hole is on the corner of the site? It looks to be very deep - at least i can't make out the bottom of it anyway.


The Shard Master gave an explanation of the big hole on Post #5527 a few pages back (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=407549&page=277).

http://www.southwestfour.com/imgs/SW42009.jpg

I thought I'd show you guys this. This is a festival flyer for the wicked SW4 festival and I love how they got future buildings in at the bottom there including Shard, Herons and Bishopsgate.

Forward looking from the promoters there. Cool

brilliant. and quite a lineup too

^^ Can't wait, got me tickets ages ago!! :banana:

The Shard Master gave an explanation of the big hole on Post #5527 a few pages back (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=407549&page=277).

Thanks Nihil Dicit - I thought the answer was probably buried somewhere in this thread.

The site was buzzing again today, not much else to report, but here are a few snaps;

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r224/Custermurphy/Buildings001.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r224/Custermurphy/Buildings004.jpg

Loads of Piling still happening;

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r224/Custermurphy/Buildings003.jpg

Tidy site;

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r224/Custermurphy/Buildings002.jpg

It seems piling is almost completed as they are now busy at the western fringe of the site. Excavation to start in Sept?

hard to see much visible progress, but thanks for the site updates anyway. This is the calm before the storm when we see them dig down, and then whang up the cofferdam and start climbing. Can't see any crane bases as yet....that's the next exciting thing to look out for.

Thank you for your welcome. Its an iconic building for London and the country as a whole. The first thing you`ll see being built above ground will be the first tower crane in Sept/Oct! :gossip:

:cheers:

hard to see much visible progress, but thanks for the site updates anyway. This is the calm before the storm when we see them dig down, and then whang up the cofferdam and start climbing. Can't see any crane bases as yet....that's the next exciting thing to look out for.

No cofferdam and no digging down, they are not going to use that method anymore, it would take too long.
This will now be a top down construction like Heron, so expect ground floor slab and superstructure rising the same time as basement excavation

....if this building is designed the same as Southwark Towers, in the sense that the basement is at "ground" level adjacent to St Thomas Street and the ground floor of the shard is on level 3 (as it was in Southwark Towers) adjacent to London Bridge Street. Then what we are seeing with all these construction vehicles, is they're actually standing on the bottom of the basement. Is that right, or will there be basement construction lower that what we are seeing?? My understanding is, that they're at the lowest point already.

Edit: Had a look at the plans again and they say there will be 5 basement levels in total. So by my calculations, that means there will be two lower basement floors to be constructed - I think.

I can see the two cranes on this from my office window now. It'll be great to see the Shard (finally) rise.

It will be great to see the shard rise, but I think it is going to be quite a few more months before we actually see this happen.

I can see the two cranes on this from my office window now. It'll be great to see the Shard (finally) rise.

the crawler cranes presumably? You nearly got me all excited at the prospect of tower cranes up in 24 hrs. Silly jimbo.

The large hole i mentioned in my earlier post has been filled in today. They've moved some massive drilling machines onto the site too.

No idea why I've just thought this but, who reckons when this is topped out that it will become as big a focal point as the London eye for NYE fireworks etc.. I can't see the Eye/Big Ben and Shell Centre (for the countdown clock) losing their respected roles in the preceedings, but I can see fireworks being set off up or on top of this for the World media.. It would be amazing to see some sort of countdown lighting scheme lighting it up higher n higher until the strike of 12, or even a laser show from the top..

anyway, a bit of random..slightly premature thinking :|

No idea why I've just thought this but, who reckons when this is topped out that it will become as big a focal point as the London eye for NYE fireworks etc.. I can't see the Eye/Big Ben and Shell Centre (for the countdown clock) losing their respected roles in the preceedings, but I can see fireworks being set off up or on top of this for the World media.. It would be amazing to see some sort of countdown lighting scheme lighting it up higher n higher until the strike of 12, or even a laser show from the top..

anyway, a bit of random..slightly premature thinking :|

Hopefully in 2012 they'll use all the skyscrapers to do something, imagine a sort of spiraling fireworks display from the top of BISH :banana:

^^ so long as it is fully built and this doesn't happen....

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=38b_1234198956

They must have been so pissed, it had never even been occupied..!

Update from today...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/Aug12009009.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/Aug12009002.jpg

Looks like they've filled one big hole...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/Aug12009006.jpg

... and are starting another.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/Aug12009005.jpg

Definitely keeping the locals enthralled.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/Aug12009012.jpg

Isn't there a song about workmen digging holes and filling them back in!

Isn't there a song about workmen digging holes and filling them back in!

YMCA?

YMCA?
:hammer:

^^

Bet those guys are all SSC posters :lol:

The chap at the front looks a bit like Art Mallik (Crimson Jihad, True Lies).

You know, Zaha Hadid etc is always complaining about the racist patriarchy keeping women architects down, but I go past that a lot and I have NEVER seen a woman watching the construction.

But that's for another thread.

^^^ Very true but this is now a construction project as opposed to a piece of architecture for now ;)

Bit quiet on the webcam today, no people to be seen - maybe its an old image or are they having a holiday?

(Back again now - must have been tea break. Note to self: Stop panicking!)

The chap at the front looks a bit like Art Mallik (Crimson Jihad, True Lies).

bloke in the middle looks like scolari :lol:

Update from today...
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/Aug12009012.jpg
http://content8.flixster.com/photo/70/56/38/7056382_tml.jpg
If its not him, he'll make a great acting double!

Bit quiet on the webcam today, no people to be seen - maybe its an old image or are they having a holiday?

(Back again now - must have been tea break. Note to self: Stop panicking!)

Whats the adress for the webcam??

Bit quiet on the webcam today, no people to be seen - maybe its an old image or are they having a holiday?

(Back again now - must have been tea break. Note to self: Stop panicking!)

I was there at 1200 and gave up counting how any people were on site, al 3 piling rigs were at full pelt and in the 10 minutes I was there 2 mahosive pile cages turned up and were off loaded.

You can now see some of the new piles with the plunge coloums, these have been partially excavated near the road side of the site.

This is cracking along:cheers:

Whats the adress for the webcam??

Go to http://shardlondonbridge.com/ and seek out the Visualisation section. Personally I then zoom in 200%. Its updated about once an hour. Becomes addictive I warn you though!

This is cracking along:cheers:
Any idea how the perimiter wall is getting long? I note that the blue pile driver that was coming round from the right has now moved so I guess the wall is creeping up from the left in the cam to meet up with it?

Go to http://shardlondonbridge.com/ and seek out the Visualisation section. Personally I then zoom in 200%. Its updated about once an hour. Becomes addictive I warn you though!

Thankyou very much, the amount of times ive gone through that site I havnt found that haha.
I love when sites have webcams:D

Any idea how the perimiter wall is getting long? I note that the blue pile driver that was coming round from the right has now moved so I guess the wall is creeping up from the left in the cam to meet up with it?

It's a bit hard to tell, there is so much digging and piling and stuff going on you can't really see the concrete piling guide they have cast around the site

I really cannot wait till this is built, London trumps Nagoya for the 'Worlds tallest Railway Station' record.

‘Shard’ Defies Credit Crisis as Qataris Elevate London Skyline
By Peter Woodifield

Aug. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Half a mile across the River Thames from where bankers tally job losses in London’s financial district, builders sink girders to lay the foundations of what will be western Europe’s tallest skyscraper.

“The Shard,” funded by four Qatar-based companies, is due to be completed in 2012. The 1,016-foot (310-meter), 430 million-pound ($712 million) tower also will be the most prominent symbol yet of how money from the Middle East is filling the void left by western banks and financiers.

“In the same way as when the Japanese came to London in the 1980s, those who have the biggest pockets and are the best capitalized will get the best locations,” said Savvas Savouri, head of strategy at London property broker Bh2.

Banks and insurers are firing more than 58,000 workers in London because of the global financial crisis, prompting developers including Land Securities Group Plc and British Land Co. to delay or axe projects. Companies shelved a total of 5.75 million square feet (534,000 square meters) of office space due for completion by 2011, almost three times the size of Green Park in central London, according to real estate brokers CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.

The biggest structure still going ahead in the City of London financial district will be the 945-foot Pinnacle office tower due to be build by 2013. That also is being funded by investors from the Middle East, Arab Investments Ltd.

Piano’s Design

The Shard, with offices, a five-star hotel, restaurants and apartments, got the name from its wedge-like glass structure designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.

“There is very little being built because of the credit crisis, so I think there is an opportunity to attract high- quality tenants,” Irvine Sellar, the developer, said in an interview last week. “As the building starts to emerge on the skyline, it will become a marketing tool in itself to attract potential occupiers.”

Transport for London, which runs the city’s subway system and bus network, agreed in August 2006 to lease 190,000 square feet for 30 years in the 80-story Shard for an annual rent of 7.3 million pounds. That represents 33 percent of the total 580,000 square feet of office space.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Asia Ltd., the largest Asian luxury-hotel group, signed a 30-year lease in 2005 to take 200,000 square feet of space on 19 stories in the new building. The hotel will have 197 rooms and suites.

‘Nick of Time’

“The credit crisis happened arguably in the nick of time,” said Savouri. “If it had happened a few months later, a lot of buildings that have been delayed would have gone ahead.”

The development still will have to compete with the City of London and Canary Wharf down the river in the Docklands financial district to attract tenants.

Canary Wharf currently boasts the U.K.’s tallest tower, One Canada Square, built by Canadian developer Paul Reichmann in 1991 and financed by loans from banks including Citigroup Inc., Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Royal Bank of Canada. Companies including State Street Corp. and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. rent offices in the 800-foot building.

The Shard’s location, adjacent to the London Bridge transportation hub, may be an advantage, said Ben Thomson, who is in charge of leasing space in the City of London for broker Drivers Jonas.

“The Shard will cater for a much wider tenant audience,” said Thomson, who expects demand to increase by 2012. “Corporates might consider going there that wouldn’t go into the City. That will be one of the attractions.”

Two Oak Trees

The Shard sits on the south edge of the Thames, tucked between London Bridge and the 18th century Guy’s Hospital in an area called Bermondsey, known more for its housing projects than as the headquarters of companies.

“I’ve lived here 20 years and I hope it brings improvement to the area,” said Martin Breen, a 45-year-old electrician who lives in the neighborhood. “People want change.”

Five months after construction started, some of the foundation pilings are as thick as two mature oak trees and, at 54 meters long (177 feet), are taller than the statue in Trafalgar Square of Lord Nelson, Britain’s most famous sailor. Laid end-to-end, the pilings are 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles) in length, said Sellar, 70.

When complete in May 2012, two months before the opening of the London Olympics, the tower will be the European Union’s first building to pierce the 1,000-foot barrier, rising more than 200 feet above Canary Wharf Tower. In all of Europe, only two Moscow skyscrapers will be taller.

Selling Jeans

Sellar, who made his first fortune selling flared jeans in London’s Carnaby Street in the 1960s, first unveiled plans for the Shard in October 2000 and won planning approval in 2003.

Construction was delayed by a dispute between Sellar Property Group, CLS Holdings Plc and Syrian-born real estate entrepreneur Simon Halabi over the financing arrangements as borrowing costs rose.

A group of four Qatari investors bought 80 percent of the project in January 2008, cutting Sellar’s stake to 20 percent.

Qatar National Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, QInvest and Barwa International each took a 20 percent stake. Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Co., a unit of the Qatar Investment Authority, agreed in December to fund the Shard’s construction. Qatari Diar didn’t respond to requests for comment.

As well as the funding, the tenants also will come from “east of Suez,” according to Savouri, the broker. “They have hit a sweet spot coming to the market in 2012,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Woodifield in Edinburgh at pwoodifield@bloomberg.net.

tucked between London Bridge and the 18th century Guy’s Hospital,

Ha Ha bloody advanced for the 18th century!!!! (I know it means the hospital site really).

Thanks for that a nice read.

^^Much of Guy's is C18th.

http://charlesdickenspage.com/2008_photos/images/042508_guys_hospital01.jpg

Any idea how the perimiter wall is getting long? I note that the blue pile driver that was coming round from the right has now moved so I guess the wall is creeping up from the left in the cam to meet up with it?

They have started on the pile guides on the bit nearest to the foot bridge today, they were digging it out yesterday and when I was there at lunch time today the moulds were in place ready for the concrete.

I think this is the last side that needs doing, they are nearly finished on the back wall, and the road side and far side have been completed.

It's amazing to think we could be seeing the first actual steelwork within the next couple of months.

Really? That's amazing. Although isn't Shard a steel and concrete core composite?

^^Much of Guy's is C18th.

http://charlesdickenspage.com/2008_photos/images/042508_guys_hospital01.jpg

I've often wondered about that - its quite a nice old building - why did they build that monstrosity (guys tower) that sticks out of it today!

Rather amusingly a couple of years ago, my flat mate's father came over for drinks. We were looking over the london skyline from my balcony and I said it looked amazing - other than Guys Tower which was disgusting. Unfortunately my flatmate's father is a retired very senior dentist. He told me that he had been one of the people in charge of commissioning guys years ago! Oops! He told me they built it like that as they needed a very tall boiler chimney and the planning authorities back then would not have allowed a boiler chimney so high near st pauls (much the same as today of course). So they built a very large and ugly building around the chimney!

Is there any further news on Guy's Hospital reclad. I heard that work had started both on St Thomas and Guy's, is that true

Don't know if there's news on Guy's, but here's the thread (this is the Shard thread, and we're getting sidetracked...):
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=513615&page=11

Tommy's is on a separate site (though they're part of the same NHS trust).

http://charlesdickenspage.com/2008_photos/images/042508_guys_hospital01.jpg

Another potential fantastic public space in London wasted by the automobile. When will the madness end.

It really would be vastly improved without the cars there. I guess the only way around it would be an underground car park which would be too expensive to be justified and banning cars would be unfeasible. Sad really.

Another potential fantastic public space in London wasted by the automobile. When will the madness end.

Agreed, this should be a grand lawn with a grand pathway leading up to the entrance. The stonework needs a right and proper clean too...

Theres a very large green space surrounded by some of the older buildings and the new student building further back from this. Not sure why you would want a pedestrianised square in what is a dark & gloomy part of St Thomas street. Its a hospital at the end of the day and the many people that work there are going to need somewhere to park.

Its not the main entrance to the hospital so I'm not sure who would use this if this was a pedestrianised square.

trouble is most of the Lost London thread is full of people bemoaning the loss of these types of unusual tranquil spaces, those suprise places that make people fall in love. Hopefully the glamour of the Shard will really push for this lost area of London to reinvent itself, providing that feeling of boundless possibilty lost in most developments and regeneration schemes. Any new development at Guys will surely tap into that.

The digging on the road side, could this be the start to accommodate the concrete raft?

I've often wondered about that - its quite a nice old building - why did they build that monstrosity (guys tower) that sticks out of it today!

Rather amusingly a couple of years ago, my flat mate's father came over for drinks. We were looking over the london skyline from my balcony and I said it looked amazing - other than Guys Tower which was disgusting. Unfortunately my flatmate's father is a retired very senior dentist. He told me that he had been one of the people in charge of commissioning guys years ago! Oops! He told me they built it like that as they needed a very tall boiler chimney and the planning authorities back then would not have allowed a boiler chimney so high near st pauls (much the same as today of course). So they built a very large and ugly building around the chimney!

The C18th element of Guys is beautifully proportioned. It will be enhanced by the Shard in my view. As you all same, shame about the tower.

I used to work in the above mentioned guys building.... it is realy quirky all the floors are uneven and you can walk right around the colonade on the upper levels... used to be Nurses rooms...!

Last time I looked, this thread was for the Shard, not Guys.

thanks for pointin that out! i was getting fed up thinking there were updates!!

Last time I looked, this thread was for the Shard, not Guys.

So sorry you're heinous

Folllowing up on the interesting story about the concept behind Guys tower, when Bankside power station was going through the planning process in the late 1940s, it was highly controversial, and it is much closer than any other big structure to St Pauls and features a very tall chimney, and somehow it was built. By the 1980s when it closed down, a campaign began to save this power station, and the result ultimately is Tate Britain (which originally wanted to locate in the Battersea Power Station but it was too big and costly to renovate, so plan B was Bankside). Just goes to show that tall chimneys can be built. It is assumed that something like Bankside would be ridiculed if proposed today, but there it is today and no-one complains about its visual impact on St Pauls and the view corridors! Just goes to show....

Unusually seem to be working at the weekend today. From the cams there is a heck of a lot of crane activity today - the site looks crowded.

There are many articles and stuff saying that Bishopsgate may be the tallest if the Shard is completed afterwards. Thats a no hoper judging by the information youve given us! ^^

Bishopsgate won't be topped out until late 2012 apparently, whereas the Shard is targeted for completion in May 2012. So these articles are a little behind the times I think - unless something goes seriously wrong on the site of the Shard, there's no way it will be finished after Bishopsgate.

I've often wondered about that - its quite a nice old building - why did they build that monstrosity (guys tower) that sticks out of it today!

Rather amusingly a couple of years ago, my flat mate's father came over for drinks. We were looking over the london skyline from my balcony and I said it looked amazing - other than Guys Tower which was disgusting. Unfortunately my flatmate's father is a retired very senior dentist. He told me that he had been one of the people in charge of commissioning guys years ago! Oops! He told me they built it like that as they needed a very tall boiler chimney and the planning authorities back then would not have allowed a boiler chimney so high near st pauls (much the same as today of course). So they built a very large and ugly building around the chimney!

Folllowing up on the interesting story about the concept behind Guys tower, when Bankside power station was going through the planning process in the late 1940s, it was highly controversial, and it is much closer than any other big structure to St Pauls and features a very tall chimney, and somehow it was built. By the 1980s when it closed down, a campaign began to save this power station, and the result ultimately is Tate Britain (which originally wanted to locate in the Battersea Power Station but it was too big and costly to renovate, so plan B was Bankside). Just goes to show that tall chimneys can be built. It is assumed that something like Bankside would be ridiculed if proposed today, but there it is today and no-one complains about its visual impact on St Pauls and the view corridors! Just goes to show....

Two highly interesting off topic posts. All you lot who instantly moan about off topic posts - FFS, if you had it 100% your way we would be devoid of life on here.

The nature of discussion is that topics wander slightly. Of course 15 odd pages of talking about the weather in Timbuktu isnt quite right, but bloody ell, people who moan about off topic posts annoy me much more than useless comments, which is why I felt ok to post this post :)

There was a load of Rebar delivered to the site today, and it's all in the whole were the new piles have been exposed, Pile capping you think?

Also a new concret wall is starting to appear above ground at the back of the site, just below tation wall.

Veru busy agian today, lots of concrete being poured, and the perimeter wall pile guide is almost complete.

^^right in there Ismail! its really tantalising waiting for this to happen.

Pray, were you rushing with your post old bean?

^^right in there Ismail! its really tantalising waiting for this to happen.

Pray, were you rushing with your post old bean?


Yep, going to be late for work:)

enjoy......isn't your boss on holidays? ;)

Veru busy agian today, lots of concrete being poured, and the perimeter wall pile guide is almost complete.

What does the guide consist off, is it just a set of markers to show where to put'em or is it more than that?

enjoy......isn't your boss on holidays? ;)

yep guarding an empty house, in case some tries to move in while he's away.........!

What does the guide consist off, is it just a set of markers to show where to put'em or is it more than that?

They place a series wooden moulds which are the same diameter as the pile and about a meter high, the moulds are placed so that the follow the exact path of the perimeter wall, they then pour concrete around the mould and when it's dry remove the moulds.
This results in a form of pile cap with hole exactly where the piles need to be placed, a piling rig then drills the pile, a rebar cage is lowered, concrete poured in and hey presto a section of the perimimter wall is complete, then they move to the next hole in the guide, and so on.

As of today the whole guide wall is complete.:cheers:

They place a series wooden moulds ...
ta :angel:

Just looked back to exactly a year ago today on this thread, This time last year Soutwark Towers was only just half way down, and we were still waiting for final contracts to be signed.
Amazing the difference a year makes, roll on Aug 2010:cheers:

Two highly interesting off topic posts. All you lot who instantly moan about off topic posts - FFS, if you had it 100% your way we would be devoid of life on here.

The nature of discussion is that topics wander slightly. Of course 15 odd pages of talking about the weather in Timbuktu isnt quite right, but bloody ell, people who moan about off topic posts annoy me much more than useless comments, which is why I felt ok to post this post :)

Indeed, I learn much of my new info from so called 'off topic' chatter that would be otherwise be lost forever. What shall we discuss in the 3 days between a piece of yellow machinery that nobody recognises arives and makes a lot of noise?

The posts about Guys hospital tower is especially enlightening!

:wave:

anyone bored of piling yet?

:wave:

anyone bored of piling yet?

Are you the fella that works on the site, or am I mistaking you for someone else?

:wave:

anyone bored of piling yet?

Guilty!

Are you the fella that works on the site, or am I mistaking you for someone else?

guilty as charged....

anyone noticed that the `G` and the `E` off the LONDON BRID`GE` sign have dissapeared yet?
:ohno: dont tell Network Rail :ohno:

:wave:

anyone bored of piling yet?

yep, how long to go before it's over

guilty as charged....

anyone noticed that the `G` and the `E` off the LONDON BRID`GE` sign have dissapeared yet?
:ohno: dont tell Network Rail :ohno:

Have general electric gone down the pan and had to resort to stealing other peoples signs for their own?

The hole that is developing on the right, am I right in thinking (from the low quality webcam) that it has some rebar in place? I'm kind of hoping this may be the start of the raft but its hard to say from the cam.

I would hope so, it has taken them a long time to get this far. The difficulties of working on such a sensitive site I suppose.

The hole that is developing on the right, am I right in thinking (from the low quality webcam) that it has some rebar in place? I'm kind of hoping this may be the start of the raft but its hard to say from the cam.

you are right, the re-bar fixing is underway but it is only continuation of the capping beam on the secant pile wall

:wave:

anyone bored of piling yet?

Don't you remember the old ketchup ad? The best comes to those who wait.
Look at this way, it's going to up a long time, yet the foundations are only built once, savior the moment :-))

I do wonder what planet some people are on.

Loads more piling cassions being delivered today,
But more interesting is that there is a huge steel frame being constructed, in side the hoarding between the bus station and New London bridge house, they have also installed massive power transformers there and there were reels of 20kva cable being delivered to the site today.
This could possibley were they are going to build the main site office.
Also they were delivering pallets of plywood boarding and post to New London Bridge House, so it looks like they are getting ready to put up hoarding on this building in prep for demo.
The rebar on the pile caping beam is now well under construction, and concrete was being poured in to several piles at once.

As you can imagine it was a very busy place today.:cheers:

what could be the approximate time of year we could start to see a crane ready?

^^ the Shard Master said "September 09".

These were taken today, 14/08/09. Not much rising above ground.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/ricochetj/Shard1Large.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/ricochetj/Shard15Large.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/ricochetj/Shard5Large.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/ricochetj/Shard6Large.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/ricochetj/Shard7Large.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/ricochetj/Shard8Large.jpg

I do wonder what planet some people are on.

???

Loads more piling cassions being delivered today,
But more interesting is that there is a huge steel frame being constructed, in side the hoarding between the bus station and New London bridge house, they have also installed massive power transformers there and there were reels of 20kva cable being delivered to the site today.
This could possibley were they are going to build the main site office.
Also they were delivering pallets of plywood boarding and post to New London Bridge House, so it looks like they are getting ready to put up hoarding on this building in prep for demo.
The rebar on the pile caping beam is now well under construction, and concrete was being poured in to several piles at once.

As you can imagine it was a very busy place today.:cheers:

site office on a scaffold frame over the road has worked very well at One Hyde Park.

Plywood and demo at New London Bridge house is great news. As this comes down, and hopefully the Shard goes up, we'll get a much better view of the action as the Shard climbs.

site office on a scaffold frame over the road has worked very well at One Hyde Park.

Plywood and demo at New London Bridge house is great news. As this comes down, and hopefully the Shard goes up, we'll get a much better view of the action as the Shard climbs.

The frame is only about 3 foot of the ground, and you can only see it if you are on the top deck of a bus, but it's a grid structure made with 300mm rsj's so it's quite substabtial.
A number of single phase and 3 phase power transformers have been installed on concrete bases, indicating they will be there for a long time.
You can see the cable being delivered in the 2nd from last of exbass's photo's

Well, had a peak at the site today. Any idea what this longish sinuous trench is?
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/328/img2680.jpg

big pile - looked to be filled with concrete?
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9416/img2681b.jpg

General site - they were taking away one of the piling rigs (so it looked) and had a couple of the Keltbray diggers shifting soil:
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2130/img2682m.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9541/img2679y.jpg

Keltbray arrived on site for New London Bridge House - dropping off the concrete blocks that the plywood hoardings will be anchored to.....suggests that demo is imminent.
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1129/img2683d.jpg

^^ someone's on the ball! :)

if this:

http://www.skyscrapernews.org/images/pics/246NewLondonBridgeHouse_pic3.jpg

...is about to be demolished then that's fantastic news.

have been a bit lazy recently with my updates, so thought I'd give it some shove and get the round the City on my push bike this morning. Hurrah. Lots going on.

Cheers Jim.

good photos

so will the shard be open to tourists during the olympic games?

I know it's due for completion by May 2012, but Im not sure if completion includes the inside of the shard.

Jimbo,
The large trench is were they are completing the caping beam.

Just a quick question that some could answer.

This is going to be a top down construction like Heron, however unlike Heron this has a concrete core.

So how do you construct a concrete core top down?

Jimbo,
The large trench is were they are completing the caping beam.

i guess we are at 1:10 in this construction video, below, which was posted before.

and this might show the core construction you ask of.

btw if you got to youtube to watch this it's a lot bigger, easier to make out....

pDCyeX-sbVg

i guess we are at 1:10 in this construction video, below, which was posted before.

and this might show the core construction you ask of.

btw if you got to youtube to watch this it's a lot bigger, easier to make out....

pDCyeX-sbVg

Does that video not show the old method of construction, where they wer going to build a coffer dam and then dig out the basement levels before piling and construction, or am I confused.
What happened to the cofferdam that was built early on just after the demo phase, wasn't it just filled in again, could never undestand the reason for it.

Does that video not show the old method of construction, where they wer going to build a coffer dam and then dig out the basement levels before piling and construction, or am I confused.
What happened to the cofferdam that was built early on just after the demo phase, wasn't it just filled in again, could never undestand the reason for it.

if you say they changed the construction method then you probably know better than i do, so maybe this video is out of date.

p.s. i thought heron has no core?

pinnacle does, they changed the design this year didn't they to include one.

Just a quick question that some could answer.

This is going to be a top down construction like Heron, however unlike Heron this has a concrete core.

So how do you construct a concrete core top down?

Statement from the internal news brochure from the consulting engineers -
Project Director Kamran Moazami "We were intendnig to build the core bottom up, but it was going to take too long. Instead we're going for a top down strategy including the core"
The Shard is believed to be the world's first skyscraper to use top-down construction method for its structural core. The basement, including the core, will be constructed from the ground floor down at the same time as the 80-storey structure is constructed from the ground floor up. Following the installation of the piles and basement plunge columns the ground floor slab will be built, creating a surface for the storage of materials while the construction of the basement continues beneath.

Not really answering your question but interesting nonetheless - and appearently it will probably remain unanswered as it's a world's first, so nobody will have experience with this..

^^ i remember now.

so they are what, laying down 80 floors of steel then building a core starting from the very top? the core doesn't support the building?

or is it just the core below ground that's constructed top down, and the above ground core constructed the normal way?

Doesn't it bother them that of all the thousands of skyscrapers built in the world, nobody has ever employed that method before? Perhaps they should stick to proven construction techniques rather than trying a unique experimental method?

^^ i remember now.

so they are what, laying down 80 floors of steel then building a core starting from the very top? the core doesn't support the building?

or is it just the core below ground that's constructed top down, and the above ground core constructed the normal way?

it is very surely the later. It's all about starting construction over and below ground at the same time, the later with a top down apporach. So in the case of a core based construction type the core has to follow that approach..

Doesn't it bother them that of all the thousands of skyscrapers built in the world, nobody has ever employed that method before? Perhaps they should stick to proven construction techniques rather than trying a unique experimental method?

I'm sure it has bothered them otherwise they would have gone for that approach from the start. But obviously we have a very special situation here with an enormous financial budget (and costs will most surely be an issue in going for an innovative approach like this one that's rather about saving time than money) on the one hand - in the top range on a world wide scale - that makes innovative approaches more feasable. And even more importantly we have an enormous time constraint with an extraordinary event (that most likely will not reappear in this city in our lifetime) as the marker for the supposed end of construction and a severe delay of start of construction because of the difficulties to sort out financing due to the credit crunch (hopefully another once in a lifetime event and not unrealistically seeing that the last economic crisis on that level was 80 years ago). So really quite a lot of factors that led to a very special situation here needing a special solution..

And to be honest - doesn't someone always have to be the first to go for new innovative techniques? Otherwise we'd still be in the stone age..

Just a quick question that some could answer.

This is going to be a top down construction like Heron, however unlike Heron this has a concrete core.

So how do you construct a concrete core top down?

Thinking more about it this should actually be quite straightforward. As discussed the top down core construction approach is only for the few basement floors. And those are simply done one by one, so it shouldn't be too difficult to pour that concrete into a form for one core floor at a time..

The important thing to keep in mind is that piles go to ground floor level here, therefore the ground floor slab will function as a stability base like normally the lowest basement slab (like eg. at RS) would. So the core below ground doesn't have to fully take the weight of the top floors like it would have to if piles only went to basement level and this makes the core construction below ground less critical..

I think actually the first part of the core will be steel for the first 41 levels.

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=583&storycode=3094541

Moazami says every possible option was explored, including all-steel and all-concrete structures. The solution is a hybrid – a steel frame will be used from the ground up to level 41 for the commercial part of the tower, which helps keep the weight of the building down. An all-concrete frame with lettable space-saving 200mm thick post-tensioned concrete slabs will be used above level 41 for the hotel and apartments. This is wrapped around a “very robust concrete core”, which has been designed with the services and vertical transportation in mind.

Like the building itself, the core tapers towards the top, although this occurs as a series of steps. Sloping perimeter columns perform an important structural role, and internal columns are used; more of these are needed at the lower levels. As the core narrows, internal columns are founded on steps of the core, then terminate as the building narrows again. Towards the top of the building, the floors can span from the core to the perimeter without the need for internal columns.


This excellent article from Building (can't believe it was first posted way back in 2007) is good for you lot that want a refresher on the construction of the tower. Lots of videos & graphics as well.

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=583&storycode=3094541

Certain elements may have changed since then- Shard master- care to enlighten us as to the key differences between the original plans and what is happening now?

Ibiza, Londonlad, cheers for that, it makes it a bit clearer

top down really is alot simplier than you are all thinking. Dont forget why the plunge columns are there and that they are in the core too. There will be no cofferdam :rock:

The viewing levels will be open for the olympics just like Westfield in White City had to be open (even though it wasnt really all ready) before xmas......£££

top down really is alot simplier than you are all thinking. Dont forget why the plunge columns are there and that they are in the core too. There will be no cofferdam :rock:

The viewing levels will be open for the olympics just like Westfield in White City had to be open (even though it wasnt really all ready) before xmas......£££

Once again, it's so good to have some one on the inside
Thanks

Presumabily the original cofferdam that was filled in, was there purely to clean out any crap?

Very interesting video :)

Presumabily the original cofferdam that was filled in, was there purely to clean out any crap?

Original cofferdam was only to remove main central pilecap from the old southwark towers

Taken yesterday

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/djmaxliving/P1040614.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/djmaxliving/P1040616.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/djmaxliving/P1040615.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/djmaxliving/P1040618.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/djmaxliving/P1040619.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/djmaxliving/P1040620.jpg

I checked the EXIF in those photos -
You have your exposure set to +1.0, which is why they're so washed out.

Thanks for that Sesquip i have changed it now, they do look crap i do admit.

Thanks for the updates.

I see the piles seem higher than they were before. It might be a daft question, but is that because the piles have got taller, or has the ground got lower?

There are no piles visible, just the piling equipment.

*compares old photos*

No, the hole is not deeper. The metal cylinders perform some function I'm not sure of at the head of the pile. Formwork for columns to support the ground floor so excavation can contiue below? I'm not sure.

They have now dimantled one of the piling rigs. Not long now before this phase is completed.

there is also some steel work begining in the centre of the sit, this can not be a capping beam, It's a large girder with connection pins on top for the next piece of steel.

There are no piles visible, just the piling equipment.

Thanks.

And i'm an idiot.

working away today

They have now dimantled one of the piling rigs. Not long now before this phase is completed.

there is also some steel work begining in the centre of the sit, this can not be a capping beam, It's a large girder with connection pins on top for the next piece of steel.

I don't want to jump the gun, but is this the start of the steel core?

A video from today:

http://www.willfox.com/videos/skyscrapers/shard/2.wmv

(5 minutes / 65mb)

I don't want to jump the gun, but is this the start of the steel core?

Steel? I thought it was concrete!

A video from today:

http://www.willfox.com/videos/skyscrapers/shard/2.wmv

(5 minutes / 65mb)

I was there just a bit after you, In time to see the concrete being poured in to the pile.
Met a bloke there who was very interested in the building, and had come to the site specially to have a look, introduced him to the SSC forum, and said he will be looking it up.

Brilliant video update!

Much appreciated :)

not sure if this has been posted before but it's further confirmation that this thing is 100% go: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aOGElP5fZi4I

oooh this is exciting. Imminent above ground action! A wonga! Must be due to for tangible structural action once the crane arrives, and that appears to be within the next 6 weeks.

loads of concrete being poured today, at the back of the site, looks more than just pile capping.

For what it's worth:

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc360/londonfire/Picture14720007.jpg

Thats brilliant. If I'm not mistaken, top right of the sight you can see the outline of the core! :)

Just looking at that sight makes me realise this is going to be a skinny tower giving it more soar!

Yes, maybe you're right, the smaller core is due to rise first too.

Probably a daft question and apologies if so, but is the building at the back of the site in that picture (presumably the station) going to be demolished, or will this be tagged on to the new Shard, or is this also being refurbished.

For what it's worth:

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc360/londonfire/Picture14720007.jpg

wow, what a perfect overview of the site from up guy's tower. I see many of us doing a pilgrimage up there in the months/years to come to have this perfect view of the Shard's progress. And not only it's free (just go in the main entrance to the tower and take the elevators to the top, done it myself already and was easier - not at all like if one would try the same in an office tower where securty would be onto you within seconds - than I thought) but one gets a stunning view of the whole of London as an extra..

Can you really just walk in and go?

Can you really just walk in and go?

yes indeed. It's one of London's most busy hospitals, so there's usually (i guess at least during daytime/visiting hours) lots of people around and you either don't get noticed or are taken for visiting some relative or something. The elevators are to the left after you enter and you go up to the top floor where there's some auditorium rooms, but you simply go to windows on both sides of the tower (on the south side the window is in a staircase if i remember right) on the main aisle exiting from the elevator

PS: don't forget to take pictures for us once you are up there!

I took a look at the site this lunchtime, and I got the impression that there's some formwork starting to go up around the concrete slabs recently poured at the rear of the site.

Thats brilliant. If I'm not mistaken, top right of the sight you can see the outline of the core! :)


Yes, maybe you're right, the smaller core is due to rise first too.

I took a look at the site this lunchtime, and I got the impression that there's some formwork starting to go up around the concrete slabs recently poured at the rear of the site.


:omg: :dizzy: :drool:

edit: apologies, messed up.

thanks for the updates everyone.

:cheers:

If you go on to the official web site, and look at camera 1, you can also see the steel frame work in front of New London Bridge house, and the hoarding going up around it.

O'rly? A core then? But where are the cranes?

I don't think we'll see a core for another month at least!

Here are some updates:

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2439/shar3.jpg

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/28/shar1.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/452/shar2.jpg

its not the core :ohno:

What is it then?

ground floor slab :yes:

ground floor slab :yes:

How long will it be till the core rises?