Reader views (1)

These hideous tower blocks will destroy London forever. The city will never be the same again. They must be stopped!

- Sarah Barrington-Ward, Tunbridge Wells, 03/06/2010 21:50I reckon that's a fake. A double-barrelled surname and Tunbridge Wells? It's too close to stereotype. I'm suspicious.... ;)

Went for a walk after work today:

http://qry.i.jpgur.com/akjth.jpg



http://xng.i.jpgur.com/ewuyz.jpg



http://bms.i.jpgur.com/pezsr.jpg

Excellent shopts. Really shows its immense scale for London.

You can also see the core now on the trains coming into Victoria.

Actually it was visible from the victoria train on a March vist i had to London

London was supposed to have 11 skyscrapers above 150m high by 2012. what are we gonna have by then? 1 ? maybe 2. :ohno:

London was supposed to have 11 skyscrapers above 150m high by 2012. what are we gonna have by then? 1 ? maybe 2. :ohno:


So are they going to demolish all the towers in the city & on the Isle of Dogs in the next couple of years. Got yourself a hot scoop there.

Which one will survive the cull and be the only one left by 2012?

London was supposed to have 11 skyscrapers above 150m high by 2012. what are we gonna have by then? 1 ? maybe 2. :ohno::? We already have more than that! And we'll have way more than that if uncompleted skyscrapers that are over 150m are included!

Completed by/during 2012:
01) Shard = 310m
02) 1 Canada Square = 236m
03) Heron Tower = 230m/202m
04) HSBC = 200m
05) Citigroup = 200m
06) BT Tower = 189m
07) Tower 42 = 183m
08) Gherkin = 180m
09) Broadgate = 164m
10) 1 Churchill Place = 156m
11) 25 Bank Street = 153m
12) 40 Bank Street = 153m
13) 10 Upper Bank Street = 151m

UC but over 150m by 2012 (probably....)
14) Pinnacle = 288m
15) Riverside South 1 = 237m
16) Riverside South 2 = 186m
17) Vauxhall Tower = 181m

We might have 122 Leadenhall Street, 20 Fenchurch Street, and Beetham Tower over 150m too, which would almost double your 11 x 150m target.

Hope this doesn’t slow down the core as well.


Steelwork repairs hamper Shard progress
4 June 2010
http://www.building.co.uk/5000496.article?origin=bldgweeklynewsletter

Mace’s deadline to build the Shard has come under renewed pressure after a key part of the 310m tall tower has had to be repaired


Building understands steelwork contractor Severfield-Rowen is carrying out remedial work to steel fabricated by Cleveland Bridge UK for the £350m Renzo
Piano-designed structure.

Mace replaced CBUK with Severfield last year, before work on site had started, but part of the revised deal involved CBUK fabricating steel for the bottom nine floors.
Problems with the weldings and dimensions are being blamed and repairs are expected to take about a month, although there is no indication that the overall deadline of May 2012 for western Europe’s tallest building will slip.

A CBUK source said the repairs would take up to four weeks, and that they were necessary because of changes to the drawings.

He added: “There is the odd fabrication error. Extra bits were added to the drawings after fabrication. Some holes don’t line up and some brackets are welded in the wrong areas.”
A Severfield source admitted the work it had to carry out would slow down progress. “The problem is that we’re having to work behind ourselves as well as ahead. We’re doing it ourselves as we’ve got loads of resource.”

A Mace spokesperson said: “There have been some very minor tolerance issues which have now been completely resolved and we anticipate completion of this element of the programme on schedule in late 2010. There is no impact on the wider programme.”

The hitch follows a delay to the start of the scheme when there was a switch from construction management to a fixed-price contract. To get the project back on track, Mace “jump-started” the core construction - a technique that enables the concrete core and steel superstructure to be built upwards while the core is still being built downwards into the basement.

This has the potential to shave three months off the construction time.

London was supposed to have 11 skyscrapers above 150m high by 2012. what are we gonna have by then? 1 ? maybe 2. :ohno:

We'll probabally have more than 11 over 200m by then:cheers:

Hope this doesn’t slow down the core as well.


Steelwork repairs hamper Shard progress
4 June 2010
http://www.building.co.uk/5000496.article?origin=bldgweeklynewsletter

Mace’s deadline to build the Shard has come under renewed pressure after a key part of the 310m tall tower has had to be repaired


Building understands steelwork contractor Severfield-Rowen is carrying out remedial work to steel fabricated by Cleveland Bridge UK for the £350m Renzo
Piano-designed structure.

Mace replaced CBUK with Severfield last year, before work on site had started, but part of the revised deal involved CBUK fabricating steel for the bottom nine floors.
Problems with the weldings and dimensions are being blamed and repairs are expected to take about a month, although there is no indication that the overall deadline of May 2012 for western Europe’s tallest building will slip.

A CBUK source said the repairs would take up to four weeks, and that they were necessary because of changes to the drawings.

He added: “There is the odd fabrication error. Extra bits were added to the drawings after fabrication. Some holes don’t line up and some brackets are welded in the wrong areas.”
A Severfield source admitted the work it had to carry out would slow down progress. “The problem is that we’re having to work behind ourselves as well as ahead. We’re doing it ourselves as we’ve got loads of resource.”

A Mace spokesperson said: “There have been some very minor tolerance issues which have now been completely resolved and we anticipate completion of this element of the programme on schedule in late 2010. There is no impact on the wider programme.”

The hitch follows a delay to the start of the scheme when there was a switch from construction management to a fixed-price contract. To get the project back on track, Mace “jump-started” the core construction - a technique that enables the concrete core and steel superstructure to be built upwards while the core is still being built downwards into the basement.

This has the potential to shave three months off the construction time.

I very much doubt it will slow down the Shard, They will have a completly different project team working on Baby Shard.
It may even speed up the process, with the same contractor doing both projects, no compatibility issues etc.

The core has slowed at the moment, because of last minute internal design changes, which require the slipform to be adjusted

Any pictures of the second core yet?

^^ HEY HEEY!!!!.. easy.. I forgot to add NEW :bash:.. I meant 11 NEW skyscrapers London was supposed to have by 2012.

http://i49.************/o03q6a.jpg




http://i46.************/6puiba.jpg

I very much doubt it will slow down the Shard, They will have a completly different project team working on Baby Shard.
It may even speed up the process, with the same contractor doing both projects, no compatibility issues etc.

The core has slowed at the moment, because of last minute internal design changes, which require the slipform to be adjusted

I guess these are the sort of problems the Pinnacle could do without, hence the steady progress going on north of the river?

London was supposed to have 11 skyscrapers above 150m high by 2012. what are we gonna have by then? 1 ? maybe 2. :ohno:

Maybe you are referring to London, Ontario?

http://i50.************/1zx7bsn.jpg

You can also see the core now on the trains coming into Victoria.

For a second, I pictured the core being transported in on the 3:15 from Reading!

The core is now visible from my office here in the West End. :banana:

Yes, how dare this beautiful piece of world class architecture upset someone with a double-barrelled surname from Tunbridge Wells.

Not only does she describe it as a tower block, she seems to be suggesting that she would rather London stayed still and remained ever unchanging?!

Edit: A damn good CLEAN would do wonders for Guys, never mind the tacky refurb!

She must be so terribly upset that she wasn't able to write her response in green ink.

^^ HEY HEEY!!!!.. easy.. I forgot to add NEW :bash:.. I meant 11 NEW skyscrapers London was supposed to have by 2012.

New from when exactly?

We have 7 buildings that have either been built or started construction in the last couple of years over 150m in London, the Shard, Bishopsgate, Heron, Broadgate, 2x Riverside South, St Georges Tower. That's not bad at all. Add to that Strata, the Landmark and the taller Pan Peninsula tower which are all just shy of 150m. Then you have 122 Leadenhall and 20 Fenchurch street which should be resuming construction in due course and well underway by 2012.

You really need to stop complaining, in terms of skyscrapers London is booming compared to what it has done in the past. Not to mention the fact that London has tall buildings above and beyond the quality of those being built in rival cities in Europe. Their proposals don't come close to touching the likes of the Shard or Leadenhall. We have a lot to be grateful for.

Not to mention the fact that London has tall buildings above and beyond the quality of those being built in rival cities in Europe. Their proposals don't come close to touching the likes of the Shard or Leadenhall. We have a lot to be grateful for.

I disagree

The Tour Phare in Paris
http://b6.img.v4.skyrock.net/b6f/outnext/pics/1104116994_small.jpg

The Hermitage Plaza 1 & 2 in Paris
http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/03/hermitage-plaza-by-foster-partners-1727_fp350536.jpg

The Millennium Tower in Frankfurt
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7133/millennium28qk.jpg

Lindleya Office Corner in Warsaw
http://www.urbanity.pl/images/building/55/0/1550poster.jpg

Any pictures of the second core yet?

As it's you asking, Ismail, I may be able to help out :)

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/104941-2/20100604_0117.jpg

"Sarah Babbington Ward, Tunbridge Wells" perhaps she lives next door to "Disgusted"

I disagree

The Tour Phare in Paris

The Hermitage Plaza 1 & 2 in Paris

The Millennium Tower in Frankfurt

Lindleya Office Corner in Warsaw

Tour Phare:

An amorphous blob that tries to hard, The back is awful. I find the base to be good but the 'hair' is humorous, not in a good way.

Hermitage:

A strong effort from Foster. It just beats the Shard in height but doesn't possess the same grace and elegance, and I doubt it will match the quality either.

Millenium Tower:

Has height and not much else going for it. At least Phare is interesting. Hopefully it'll be of a high quality.

Lindleya:

I've never seen this one before. It appears interesting, but it is hard to form a proper opinion based on that one small render.

I know it's all subjective but IMO the Shard is one of the best proposals in the world, there are only one or two I'd put ahead of it, and none of them are in Europe. It's tall but not stupidly tall, the cladding looks like it is going to be sublime, it has a grace and elegance which few other buildings accomplish and it is just perfectly suited to London, the spire-like appearance harks back to London's past while at the same time helping to pull it into the future.

Edit: It's worth noting that I don't dislike any of the proposals you mentioned. Except for Phare, and although I don't think it is attractive at all I do appreciate that it's trying to do something different. Hermitage and Millennium will be great for their respective cities. We're lucky to be getting so many supertalls in European cities now, I just think the Shard takes the cake :)

This will slow things down a bit! from building.co.uk...


Steelwork repairs hamper Shard progress

04 June 2010 | By David Rogers

Mace’s deadline to build the Shard has come under renewed pressure after a key part of the 310m tall tower has had to be repaired

Building understands steelwork contractor Severfield-Rowen is carrying out remedial work to steel fabricated by Cleveland Bridge UK for the £350m Renzo
Piano-designed structure.

Mace replaced CBUK with Severfield last year, before work on site had started, but part of the revised deal involved CBUK fabricating steel for the bottom nine floors.
Problems with the weldings and dimensions are being blamed and repairs are expected to take about a month, although there is no indication that the overall deadline of May 2012 for western Europe’s tallest building will slip.

A CBUK source said the repairs would take up to four weeks, and that they were necessary because of changes to the drawings.

He added: “There is the odd fabrication error. Extra bits were added to the drawings after fabrication. Some holes don’t line up and some brackets are welded in the wrong areas.”
A Severfield source admitted the work it had to carry out would slow down progress. “The problem is that we’re having to work behind ourselves as well as ahead. We’re doing it ourselves as we’ve got loads of resource.”

A Mace spokesperson said: “There have been some very minor tolerance issues which have now been completely resolved and we anticipate completion of this element of the programme on schedule in late 2010. There is no impact on the wider programme.”

The hitch follows a delay to the start of the scheme when there was a switch from construction management to a fixed-price contract. To get the project back on track, Mace “jump-started” the core construction - a technique that enables the concrete core and steel superstructure to be built upwards while the core is still being built downwards into the basement.

Hope this doesn’t slow down the core as well.


Steelwork repairs hamper Shard progress
4 June 2010
http://www.building.co.uk/5000496.article?origin=bldgweeklynewsletter

^^ :bash:

Oh dear!! Who’s fault is this? Probably us Architectural Technicians :ohno:.

= "because of last minute internal design changes, which require the slipform to be adjusted"

This has all been discussed when the article was first posted on the preceeding pages.

imagine the view walking across london bridge when this is complete, enough to send people to the brink of madness..


http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030628.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030647.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030531.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030524.jpg

whats the second core for?

I asked the same question a few pages back, there's a small blocky bit attatched at the bottom, that's what the second core is for.

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030531.jpg


you just know from this angle once the building is complete, it is going to look like an erect cock and left bollock, if there was a mirror side to the townhall it would be a cock and two bollocks.

imagine the view walking across london bridge when this is complete, enough to send people to the brink of madness..


http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030628.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030647.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030531.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1030524.jpg

Cracking shots there!

Well, you know even though I live in Wales and travel to London regularly to take photographs, and hence have seen the Shard in the past few days, I think even I under estimate the sheer size and impact this cracking building is going to have! Its all very well looking at a render but it never quite captures the actual impact of the real thing.

On many an occaison Ive taken shots from the top of Greenwich Park of Canary Wharf, and no matter how long you look at the photos they never capture the sheer beauty and life of the scene, especially if you watch the view as the sun sets into darkness.

Similarly I no matter how good our shots of the Shard are, I think even we may be stunned by the actual impact it will have.

Dear Gorgu,
Can I suggest that if your penis is shaped anything like a slender pyramid it may be worthwhile making an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.
Good luck with that.
Regards,

you just know from this angle once the building is complete, it is going to look like an erect cock and left bollock, if there was a mirror side to the townhall it would be a cock and two bollocks.

really... I get a bit irritated with people always trying to compare some building to sexual organs, what a plonker. It's a building for christ sake.

A visit from me yesterday evening

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4671360166_d298dfef8a_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4670736595_14989fc650_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4671361496_226a6b74fb_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4670735043_b2835277c3_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4671359382_07b9c6fc76_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4670737109_6e7df135f1_b.jpg

Steelwork has started for the next two floors.

Yes it has.Its racing up.

To think that the Shard core is currently a (relatively) mere 380 feet.And the steel floors starting to make it all look huge already.
Its floor 32 being formed now-at level 43 the Shard will be only HALF HEIGHT.


PS,what the hell are you talking about sony33.Stop moaning about what we supposedly haven't got,and get excited about what we have got ;-)


.

More shots from yesterday, with some extras to be found in my Shard Gallery (http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/v/architecture/london/shard)

St Thomas Street

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/104947-2/20100604_0103.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/104953-2/20100604_0104.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/104959-2/20100604_0106.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/104989-2/20100604_0112.jpg


Notice anything different on the St Thomas Street elevation? ;)

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105067-2/20100604_0135.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105013-2/20100604_0119.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105031-2/20100604_0124.jpg

I think this photo shows just how clear that glass is

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105037-2/20100604_0126.jpg


Level 2 works on Joiner Street - I've been working on some Photoshop techniques to minimise the impact of the grime on the bridge windows.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105097-2/20100604_0141.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105115-2/20100604_0144.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105109-2/20100604_0143.jpg


London Bridge Street

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105127-2/20100604_0150.jpg

Cybertect, nauticat, brilliant shots, thank you! They really are cracking on with this. It seems that the cladding which has been installed is actually below the level where the regular (office?) floors start, so will the cladding above this be somewhat smaller?

Webcams stopped working:ohno:

lots of great construction pictures :)

Either the cameras stopped working or its really sunny at night.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm68/NightRogue6/Shard-5-June.jpg

it would be great if eventually london bridge station is rebuilt that they clean the railway viaducts along St james street to their former glory.

That will happen eventually.

Taken Yesterday

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1040071.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1040073.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1040057.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1040087.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1040086.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1040105.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1040112.jpg

I notice a climbing frame has been added to the crane just behind the hoists. Must be getting close to them being tied in and jacked up

This is torture.

Be finished already! Its looking spectacular now.

What is that bright flickering light at the top of the core? Welding?
On a Sunday night?

I can see it right now from my window.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4675106633_d3457b4492_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1276/4675118971_0fbd797fc4_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4675130915_6c973c1d66_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4675126927_d4a61fda99_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4675785832_a0eb82c5f1_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4675774282_b1fa74122a_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4675190307_0b517a3235_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4675175601_3a49e5dae2_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4675816356_a8fc07e2bf_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4675300997_276324c89b_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1306/4675919308_0f59bb71e9_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4675915572_d7aa7d0796_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1290/4675288693_cdf524cc4c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4675308965_94e2cb0270_b.jpg

So what's your new camera then Darren?

The same as before. I'm just going out more.

Some wonderful shots across the forum, DarJoLe!

reckon the core will be topped out before the end of the year?

I love this glass more and more every time I see it. It’s got two different sides to it.

Great shots, but did you not take any of the new steel levels?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1290/4675288693_cdf524cc4c_b.jpg



I can see this becoming an iconic angle. A proper 'London' high street, victorian and georgian architecture, dominated by the glorious 82 storey beast.

The blinds will be orange all the way up the tower btw. You can see them on the render of the viewing gallery on the hoardings. Still, with the reflectiveness of the glass they're going to be hardly noticeable.

Though as said before, adds that little extra detail and dynamism onlookers will notice when they visit. Exceedingly good cakes build this.

reckon the core will be topped out before the end of the year?

I've forgotten where but I read recently that it'll be topped out by October. It may have been here I read that!

Number 30 just starting to peek out from below the slipform. Last week, before I went away, the 29 was just emerging. Obviously the core is going slow at the moment.

Still, the steelwork is racing up by way of compensation.

I've forgotten where but I read recently that it'll be topped out by October. It may have been here I read that!

Yeah 72 storeys in October for the core, minus the radiator floors....though i'd take a stab at November given that they're having issues with the steel.

Does anyone know what floor the Core contracts at?

I've forgotten where but I read recently that it'll be topped out by October. It may have been here I read that!

Yeah 72 storeys in October for the core, minus the radiator floors....though i'd take a stab at November given that they're having issues with the steel.

Does anyone know what floor the Core contracts at?

At the current rate there is no way they will have done up to level 72, i would say not much more than about level 30 - 35 by november and maybe up to level 72 by mid 2011. That's just a rough educated guess on current conditions based upon nothing else than my own meandering thoughts.

The steelwork will get quicker and find it easier to keep up with the core as the building gets pointier....Assuming nothing nasty happens, there's no reason why it won't be at 72 before Christmas.....when presumably it will become London's highest xmas decoration.

Anyone got a fairy large enough to go on top?

At the current rate there is no way they will have done up to level 72, i would say not much more than about level 30 - 35 by november and maybe up to level 72 by mid 2011.

The core is already at level 30.

The steelwork will get quicker and find it easier to keep up with the core as the building gets pointier....Assuming nothing nasty happens, there's no reason why it won't be at 72 before Christmas.....when presumably it will become London's highest xmas decoration.

Anyone got a fairy large enough to go on top?


:D: wink2:

At what stage will the core begin to taper?

^ Judging by the animation on youtube, approximately the half-way mark, ~150m, so pretty much as soon as it looks about as tall as Guys Tower, probably a bit lower.

Skip to 1:36:

pDCyeX-sbVg

As for tapering....I had 40 in my head for some reason....or maybe that was just an age milestone I fear the most.

Seems a bit high though as there might be only floorspace for a WC and a small dog on the 40th floor if that were the case.

Maybe another reason why the core has stopped?....re-jig the slipform?

Thanks Gherks. :)

Totally forgot about the animation. :doh:

In light of what you've said, I'm tempted to say that the core will begin to taper any time soon, but I suppose that the steel frame will have to catch up a bit first.

The core will be done 27 february 2011 ;)

See this movie
5WYKyCrK9tM

Lol, that movie is so out-dated. Look at where we should have been today according to that movie.

The core is already at level 30.

Sorry i didn't read it properly, i thought he was talking about the steelwork.

Just check back a dozen or so pages.
The core insteps at level 38 i recall.
And i think the steelwork,at this rate,wil have climbed up to 72 by early next year.

Estates Gazette article today about glass etc....



Shard's glass façade is taking shape
Bridget O'Connell 07/06/2010 12:03



The first of 11,000 glass panels that will form the façade to Sellar Properties’ 1,016ft Shard tower have arrived on site this week.

The German-made panels, which in total will cover an area of more than 56,000 square metres, are expected to go up at the pace of one floor per week.

More than 2,500 of the panels have already been manufactured and are awaiting delivery to site.

On arrival the panels will be erected from the internal floors thereby eliminating any hazards that could come from an external erection method. Three crews will be working flat out slotting the panels into place.

The 920,000 sq ft tower, which comprises offices, a five star hotel, viewing galleries, bars, restaurants and luxury flat, is scheduled to be complete by May 2012

It forms part of the £2bn Renzo Piano-designed London Bridge Quarter regeneration project around London Bridge Station wihc has backing from the Stat of Qatar.

The scheme includes the 419,000 sq ft London Bridge Place office building, a public piazza together with a redeveloped station concourse and new bus station.

Core is definitely rising again now - the "30" is completely exposed, so the core has risen a couple of feet during the day.

I'm now going off to Turkey for a week, so I expect to see at least three new floors when I get back!

The German-made panels

I thought they were made by those crazy Dutch people....?..:)

I'm now going off to Turkey for a week, !

Yes,alright for some eh.....

Webcams back


.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4675130915_6c973c1d66_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4675126927_d4a61fda99_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4675785832_a0eb82c5f1_b.jpg

Those are great shots but I wonder why glass is being installed on two different sides and on two different levels simultaneously? It would make more sense to do one side on the same level and finishing that level before moving on elsewhere.

One from my office window, apologies for the crappy quality but it was shot on a camera phone through 2 panes of dirty glass

Managed to get in Tabard Sq and the Strata too!

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b316/madmax123/07062010002.jpg

Those are great shots but I wonder why glass is being installed on two different sides and on two different levels simultaneously? It would make more sense to do one side on the same level and finishing that level before moving on elsewhere.

Im assuming its easier to install the glass in these area as its relatively straightfoward. The corners are more complicated and may have more fittings or even crane supports to carry later. Its a time saving operation too. You put the cladding in where you can.......

One from my office window, apologies for the crappy quality but it was shot on a camera phone through 2 panes of dirty glass

Managed to get in Tabard Sq and the Strata too!


Don't apologise.All photo's are (or at least should be) equally appreciated :cheers:

So the cladding is to move up a floor a week.So near top by summer/autumn next year hopefully

If the core is at level 30 then it has reached the plant level above the office floors. The next 3 floors are all restaurant levels. The height must be 110m at this point give or take afew hours pouring.

Giving serious consideration to having a dirty Maccy D's on St Thomas St for lunch and checking out some windows. I'm a sad sad man who's destined to be a fat boy by 2012.

“Oh good, the steel work is still going strong” There’s me thinking it had stopped. Your looking good my love, looking good!

I am NOT your 'love'...ya here.

:)

http://i45.************/n6rn8k.jpg

From what I've seen, it looks like they do the steelwork two stories at a time, and then put the floors in, and half way through installing the floor on the second level, they start working on steel again, pretty efficient method.

The blinds will be orange all the way up the tower btw. You can see them on the render of the viewing gallery on the hoardings. Still, with the reflectiveness of the glass they're going to be hardly noticeable.

Oh, that's what those orange things are. Interesting choice of colour, I wonder what that'll look like with loads of blinds down.

Well the holders at least. The blinds themselves might be a different colour.

(When down) The blinds facing outwards will be light grey. Not sure about the inside. There’s been a bit of confusion about these blinds, and to be honest we’ll not know exactly what they’ll look like until they’re down and in use.

There's a lovely sunset right now by the Shard. My photographic skills or equipment don't do it justice though.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4683370110_4b2176511c_b.jpg

Nice painting

The height must be 110m at this point give or take afew hours pouring.

117 metres (30 is showing,so L32 being poured). One more floor to match the lower level of guts

These problems with the steel fabrication; does anyone know if they are affecting the current steelwork going up or is it more an explanation of delay?

“The problem is that we’re having to work behind ourselves as well as ahead. We’re doing it ourselves as we’ve got loads of resource.”

You would have assumed that modifications on sight would be far more significant a problem than ones in the factory. Is this statement suggesting that they are doing both? When can we expect fall steam ahead on the steel erection again?

I have a meeting in London next week. I can't wait. Shard here I come!!!

Giving serious consideration to having a dirty Maccy D's on St Thomas St for lunch and checking out some windows. I'm a sad sad man who's destined to be a fat boy by 2012.

MD? Destined to be dead by 2012 you mean! LOL

http://i50.************/1zl6cro.jpg

These problems with the steel fabrication; does anyone know if they are affecting the current steelwork going up or is it more an explanation of delay?

“The problem is that we’re having to work behind ourselves as well as ahead. We’re doing it ourselves as we’ve got loads of resource.”

You would have assumed that modifications on sight would be far more significant a problem than ones in the factory. Is this statement suggesting that they are doing both? When can we expect fall steam ahead on the steel erection again?

There shouldnt be any more problems with the steel as I think the previous steel fabricators only produced the steel up to level 9?? So anything above has been manufactured by the new contractor and is fitting together much better. I saw first hand the problems with CBUK's steel - many bolts missing from the joints as the holes just didnt line up within the set tolerences. You can see from viewing the webcams that the steel is going up at a much faster pace the last few weeks.

were EH in charge of the cladding? because we wait all these years for a supertall and when we finally get one they decide on mirror cladding that's so reflective it could well make the structure disappear invisible into the sky!

just a thought. thanks for the updates.

were EH in charge of the cladding? because we wait all these years for a supertall and when we finally get one they decide on mirror cladding that's so reflective it could well make the structure disappear invisible into the sky!

Er, it's not, though.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105035-2/20100604_0126.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105059-2/20100604_0134.jpg

That is categorically not a mirror finish. It's about as transparent as it can get.

You do know that almost all glass reflects light when you look at it from a certain angle? Try it with your own windows at home. :)

Unless they were to frost-finish it, it will always reflect something of its environment.

P.S. You may be perceiving more reflection than there is because the glazing panels currently installed are low down and tilted up, so they're reflecting a lot of the sky. It's relatively dim down there: from my own photography, there's about a stop and a half of difference in light between the lower levels and the current top of the core due to Guy's Tower and the other surrounding buildings. That's around three times as much light. It makes the reflections appear correspondingly brighter as they're pulling light from much higher up - and the sky itself is much brighter still.

when we finally get one they decide on mirror cladding that's so reflective it could well make the structure disappear invisible into the sky!

Er...the point, the surely?

New WTC7 is well known for its camo-cladding

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5316/nycvii00502au.jpg

Er...the point, the surely?

What, that we have so little trust in todays designer's to produce something of beauty that large buildings in sensitive locations have to be semi invisible :lol:

i thought it was because home owners have the right to not see other buildings?

What, that we have so little trust in todays designer's to produce something of beauty that large buildings in sensitive locations have to be semi invisible :lol:

Its called the Shard because it represents a shard of glass..........not concrete or chocolate ;)

A view from Greenwich (next to the Cutty Sark) taken today...



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4685796539_c2ebae19b4_b.jpg

lol....A typical British summers day.....:lol:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/TheOriginalCooper/camputer64.jpg

:lol:

indeed.

http://i47.************/2z5pto3.jpg

That’s going to hamper construction a bit. Surely they stop steel work when it’s like that!

I think that wet cam shot probably makes the weather look a bit worse than it actually is....I may be wrong.

Poor old London.Was sunny all day in sussex.Surely they continue the steel work.Only a bit of rain,doesn't hamper too much

lol....A typical British summers day.....:lol:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/TheOriginalCooper/camputer64.jpg

:lol:

looks like someone has replaced the lens with frosted glass, lol

lol....A typical British summers day.....:lol:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/TheOriginalCooper/camputer64.jpg

:lol:

This is why England is green 365 days a year. I remember The Long Hot Summer when we were begging for rain and had standpipes in the street because of the water restrictions.

^^^^ so do I . It was so hot at night I slept on the kitchen roof outside my window. I Remember all the smoke from the forest fires as I joined my dad and his work during the holidays? Worst of all, my pet ants died :(


Edit: Well I guess its what the workers do when construction work is rained off: talk drizzle!

This is why England is green 365 days a year. I remember The Long Hot Summer when we were begging for rain and had standpipes in the street because of the water restrictions.


But to put things into perspective,here in sussex have only recorded 10 days of rain since start of April,so a view on ''british weather'' can be very general indeed.And is certainly over-maligned,as in reality,for example,weather in sussex is quite different (better!) to London.
Anyway,shard of glass will weather many storms-and has done already since its conception!

indeed.

http://i47.************/2z5pto3.jpg

I have to say, those floorplates look tiny. And they're only going to get smaller..?

The core is huge, it doesn't look like an efficient use of space at all.

The core is huge, it doesn't look like an efficient use of space at all.

I thought that looking at the pictures, but somehow when you stand next to the construction itself and think about the floor space suddenly they actually seem quite massive, and then the core doesnt seem such an issue.

And don't forget that the core starts to taper soon.

The core is huge, it doesn't look like an efficient use of space at all.

Perhaps, but the core is not dead space, as demonstrated by a discussion a few pages back

remember also that the core isnt just a space for the lifts, its used for other things such as toilets etc, in effect its still part of the floor space.

Edit: as above.

Is this the inspiration for Renzo's design? It's a monument to nothing at the South end of London Bridge. Very difficult to get a clear shot of.

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv339/BorderBoy3/Shard1-4.jpg

And - from North end of London Bridge - with Strata in distance to the right.

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv339/BorderBoy3/shard2-3.jpg

^^Actually that spike is supposed to be a monument and remender of all the people who had their heads put on spikes on the old London Bridge.

^^Actually that spike is supposed to be a monument and remender of all the people who had their heads put on spikes on the old London Bridge.

Sarah Barrington-Ward perhaps?

Sorry if this has been asked before but will this building right beside the Shard (http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.504108,-0.086603&spn=0.005356,0.027466&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.504046,-0.086446&panoid=ScmIxVQw3_qvbilXwEaKjQ&cbp=12,82.69,,0,-9.23) be demolished as well as part of this project? Or will it be part of the redevelopment of London Bridge Station?

I have to say, those floorplates look tiny. And they're only going to get smaller..?

I wouldn’t worry about this too much. Remember this is all prime work space, the toilets, lifts and stairs are core bound. But i have to admit! Around the 183m/lev52 mark the floor space is reduced allot.

I’m yet to visit the Shard, but when I do I bet I’ll forget all about this and just be blown away by the whole thing. I should be going in a few weeks, if anyone fancies seeing what scalatrava looks like!!!!

I think the scale in that cam shot is confusing. Up close there's LOTS of floor space. Also, the plates aren't symmetrical. There's different amounts of space on each side. I think.

Sorry if this has been asked before but will this building right beside the Shard (http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.504108,-0.086603&spn=0.005356,0.027466&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.504046,-0.086446&panoid=ScmIxVQw3_qvbilXwEaKjQ&cbp=12,82.69,,0,-9.23) be demolished as well as part of this project? Or will it be part of the redevelopment of London Bridge Station?

Yes, its the site of the Shards annex building.

Yes, its the site of the Shards annex building.

Indeed. It's already been demolished.

Sarah Barrington-Ward perhaps?

^^^^:lol:

A bit of technical info from Bdonline.co.uk

The facade of Piano’s glass tower at London Bridge station is designed to be as transparent and flush as possible

Architect Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Location St Thomas Street, London SE1
Completion date May 2012

Two blocks south of London Bridge, Renzo Piano’s 72-storey, £416 million Shard is visibly blasting skywards. When completed in 2012, this tower, containing offices, apartments and a hotel, will be 306m high – 71m higher than Britain’s current tallest building, One Canada Square at Canary Wharf – making it the tallest habitable structure in Western Europe.

In truth, the Shard is not the geometrically perfect “sharp crystal pyramid” of its architect’s description but a loose bivouac of eight elongated, jagged shards of glass all seemingly propping each other up at the pinnacle.

The eight shards slope at a constant inclination of six degrees from vertical all the way up from pavement right up to the pinnacle. This loose assembly is expressed by leaving “fractures”, at the junctions of the planes and stopping these off with conventional vertical glazing.

The eight facades themselves could hardly be simpler in appearance – sheer curtain walls of clear glass, uncluttered by any form of external structure or solar shading.
TRANSPARENT FLUSH FACADE

Great pains have been taken by Renzo Piano Building Workshop to make the Shard’s facade as transparent and flush as possible, while also ensuring it is thermally efficient.

Transparency is increased by specifying low-iron laminated glass. “The glass just disappears, and all you see is the skeleton of the building,” says project architect William Matthews.
A colourless solar-control coating of Ipasol made by Interpane has been applied “to make the building look wonderfully glassy”.

In addition a colourless low-emissivity coating has been added to reduce the reflection of infra-red radiation back into the building. The main solar control comes from the roller blinds that are woven in glass-fibre by Hexcel to reduce solar radiation by 95% while still leaving the curtain wall semi-transparent. The total solar radiation passing through the facade – the G value – amounts to only 0.12%.

To achieve the immaculately flush finish, the external glass panes oversail the polyester coated aluminium glazing beads and butt up against each other.

Scheldebouw is propping the glass on timber blocks for 48 hours while the silicon that bonds it to the glazing beads sets. This, Matthews claims, eliminates the very slight dishing effect that can mar curtain walls of double glazing units.
WINTER GARDENS

For the occupants of this immense air-conditioned tower, access to fresh air is offered through two or three winter gardens on each floor. These are located at the “fractures” between the tower’s inclined shards.

The winter gardens are enclosed behind conventional vertical curtain walls that step back every sixth floor. The curtain wall is made up of the same sealed double-glazed units as the inner leaf of the inclined shards but without the rainscreen outer leaf and roller blinds. In fact, one of these glazing units in each winter garden is a conventional top-hung opening window.

ince the winter gardens are more exposed to the external environment, they are separated from the main habitable floor space by single-glazed partitions.

The floor plan shows a typical office level. The winter gardens are located in three corners and feature opening windows.
PASSIVE DESIGN SUN-SHADING

“What we are building here is a great big greenhouse,” explains William Matthews. “So the problem is how to stay cool inside. The simplest way would be to provide external sunshading. But you can’t do that 200 metres up in the air, where it would flap around in the wind.”

Instead sun-shading is provided by motorised roller blinds incorporated within the external envelope. The design team stuck rigorously to this principle over the 10 years that the building took to design and pass through a £4 million public inquiry. But this posed another major problem in technical design that was solved with a U-turn from what Matthews calls an active facade to a passive facade.

The active facade initially adopted by the design team involved mechanically ventilating the cavities in the double-glazing units that housed the roller blinds. But the increased energy efficiency brought in by the 2006 revision of Part L of the building regulations meant that low-velocity fans would now be needed to ventilate the cavities. This in turn called for bulky ducts to be housed within the cavities and affect the facade’s transparency.

So the team switched to a passive facade in which the roller blinds are protected from wind and rain by single glazing. Thermal insulation is provided by hermetically sealed double-glazed units making up the inner skin of the facade.

Each outer cavity housing the roller blind is now 250mm wide, unventilated and requires periodic maintenance by opening the internal double-glazed panel on side hinges. Because of the depth of this cavity, the aluminium window mullion has been split into two connected by narrow spacing bars.

Winds at the spire’s pinnacle are less of a problem than turbulence at lower levels caused by the neighbouring Guy’s Hospital tower, claims Matthews.

The slight inclination of the facades reduces updraft, while a 4m-wide glass canopy at first floor level shields pedestrians outside.

Matthews claims the passive facade helped the building exceed the 2006 revision of Part L by 25% and would also pass the increased standards of this year’s revision. He also expects the building to achieve a Breeam “excellent” rating.

Matthews admits that, though simpler, the passive facade is more expensive than its active antecedent. The total 55,000sq m
curtain wall package cost £60 million, which is just over £1,000 per square metre.

Erm,1CS is 231 metres,Shard 309 metres,78 metre difference

Notice the diferences between the 29th floor and the 30 floor, there are fewer lift access doors.

Originally Posted by Blackpool88 View Post
The core is huge, it doesn't look like an efficient use of space at all.

And your also looking down from that webcan through a wide angle lens which is making the core appear quite massive!

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/shardrising1.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/shardrising4.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/shardrising5.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/shardrising7.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/shardrising3.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/shardrising6.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/shardrising2.jpg

amazing shots there, I'm really looking forward to following this as it goes up!

Is this the inspiration for Renzo's design? It's a monument to nothing at the South end of London Bridge.


^^
I'm not so sure about this. :ohno:

I know for a fact that Renzo likes his chicken tikka masala, so I have my own personal theory about where he got his inspiration from...

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/10June2010c025.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/10June2010c024.jpg

Dayum, that second core went up lightning fast!

^^
I'm not so sure about this. :ohno:

I know for a fact that Renzo likes his chicken tikka masala, so I have my own personal theory about where he got his inspiration from...



chicken/egg...curry

is that closing down or opening up!

Not sure if this has already been posted, but just noticed the Shard peeking into this article on dpreview: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/distortion/

The first floor is looking busy http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4693181538_f2abc40125_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4693182296_c30075b0f2.jpg

Blimey! That second core has sprung up astonishingly quickly!

Can anyone see why the main core progress has slowed / stopped? Its only got another 5 floors before the reconfiguration, so whats the hold up?

I spy, with my little eye, something... AMAZING

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1293/4692772503_6680ff7603_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4692772639_7edb358cd7_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4693407186_e8e727d57d_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4693407950_d660fea4b0_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4692771549_e3985db7d3_b.jpg

That is seriously superb! I love the way the glass cladding 'hangs' off the edge a little, will create an awesome effect when it's fully complete.

I concur, absolutely stunning!! Crisp, clean and will look razor sharp when completed. NOTHING will top this building, it's beyond beautiful.

How many stories will the baby core rise to?

i'll ask the obvious question, Why does the glass stick out from the main steelwork so much?


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4692772639_7edb358cd7_b.jpg

i'll ask the obvious question, Why does the glass stick out from the main steelwork so much?

a page or so back


A bit of technical info from Bdonline.co.uk
...

In truth, the Shard is not the geometrically perfect “sharp crystal pyramid” of its architect’s description but a loose bivouac of eight elongated, jagged shards of glass all seemingly propping each other up at the pinnacle.

The eight shards slope at a constant inclination of six degrees from vertical all the way up from pavement right up to the pinnacle. This loose assembly is expressed by leaving “fractures”, at the junctions of the planes and stopping these off with conventional vertical glazing.

Renzo Piano is possibly the best architect in the world today. His buildings always have real, thoughtful and beautiful surprises in them. They don't rehash the same old mannered corporate cliches that so many starchitects rely on - even our own terrible twins - Foster and Rogers. The Shard is destined to take its place as one of the greatest buildings in the world. No contest. This may well be the building that finally finishes off the oppposition to tall buildings in London while setting a great benchmark for any future projects. :cheers:

I am liking that cladding :)

Erm, I know this may sound a bit weird but I do not yet know what the second core is for...

could someone please tell me :P

Erm, I know this may sound a bit weird but I do not yet know what the second core is for...

could someone please tell me :P

This was discussed a few pages back, it's for a fairly low-rise 'extension' at the back of The Shard.

I still can't get over the quality of the cladding; we thought the Heron's was good quality...I love how they've kept the orange blind boxes on the overhanging panes for continuity's sake.

Sorry cyber it irritates me when people say a page or so back... Just checked a few pages back and found nothing, so why does the glass goes so far from the main building?

Because, that's how it was designed?

I always knew it would be over hanging like that, if someone can find the photo of the cladding test...that is a practice of an edge of the tower.

This was discussed a few pages back, it's for a fairly low-rise 'extension' at the back of The Shard.

I still can't get over the quality of the cladding; we thought the Heron's was good quality...I love how they've kept the orange blind boxes on the overhanging panes for continuity's sake.

Thanks

Yeah I remember the low rise extension you mean

Sorry cyber it irritates me when people say a page or so back... Just checked a few pages back and found nothing, so why does the glass goes so far from the main building?

You know you can click on the little View Post arrows [ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif ] at the top quotes to take you to the original post that's being quoted?

Sorry, but I thought the BD Online article I quoted explained it clearly enough, but maybe that's because I'm reading it from an architect's perspective. It's part of the architectural thought behind the building - the external envelope is made of up of huge planes of glazing that are conceptually independent of each other. They don't come together to form a corner in the same way that they do in most other buildings.

It's a bit like the way that Mies handled the planes of the Barcelona Pavilion, one of the iconic buildings of the Modern Movement.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3449388685_2a9a3ac8aa.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wojtekgurak/3449388685/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/321464099_a7cfcb95cf.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalidoskopika/321464099/)

they slide past each other, implying divisions of space that extend beyond the physical structure of the building. The 'extra' bits, such as the overhang of the roof plane, helps reinforce the idea.

A little sequence showing the fitting of one of those glazing panels on Friday afternoon.

Click (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cybertect/4694166901/sizes/o/) for a larger version.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4694166901_b3f381da1e_b.jpg

I have a few more photos from Friday to post later, though I suppose you might as well have this other one now :)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4694791540_4130d2e36b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cybertect/4694791540/)

In case anyone needed to be reminded that this building will be spectacular and unique from every angle, just notice the intricacy of the cladding, and how its absolutely not a straight forward pyramid; whole sides are subdivided into further triangular forms. The more you study the design the more difficult it becomes to think of a finer building of its size on earth.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46TheShard_pic5.jpg

A little sequence showing the fitting of one of those glazing panels on Friday afternoon. Superb. Thanks for taking those.

Because, that's how it was designed?

I always knew it would be over hanging like that, if someone can find the photo of the cladding test...that is a practice of an edge of the tower.

I think the reference may ahve been to the strange overhang off the end of the steelwork, not the overhang underneath. However if you see the exterior views on http://www.shardlondonbridge.com/ you can see how the windows do flay off the end in a blade like fashion.

edit - just noticed, you can see it in the render bobdobbs added above too

Here's some more pics from Friday. As usual, there's a bunch of others that I haven't posted here in my Shard Gallery (http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/v/architecture/london/shard/)

First up, a couple of shots at the beginning of the sequence above, showing the panel being guided out from the floor. They didn't fit with the others as I decided to switch to a portrait format fairly quickly afterward.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105495-2/20100611_0096.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105501-2/20100611_0098.jpg

the process was attracting some public attention

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105345-2/20100611_0052.jpg

a detail of the panel after installation

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105243-2/20100611_0175.jpg

and a wide shot of the whole Gate 1 corner

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105321-2/20100611_0048.jpg


Level 2 works along Joiner Street

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105219-2/20100611_0170.jpg

and a little further along Joiner Street toward the station, some new levels of steel and a huge Combisafe net

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105453-2/20100611_0083.jpg



Meanwhile, the steel frame is becoming quite apparent across Tooley Street from More London

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105141-2/20100611_0003.jpg


At Gate 3, the secondary core is flying up

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105153-2/20100611_0011.jpg


Finally, some human interest on St Thomas Street Level 2.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105393-2/20100611_0066.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105315-2/20100611_0186.jpg

In case anyone needed to be reminded that this building will be spectacular and unique from every angle, just notice the intricacy of the cladding, and how its absolutely not a straight forward pyramid; whole sides are subdivided into further triangular forms. The more you study the design the more difficult it becomes to think of a finer building of its size on earth.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46TheShard_pic5.jpg

This looks very nice but I was wondering how accurate it is. it looks like there is a staircase in the middle that keeps going up into thin air.:)

what is the second core for and how many levels will it be?

postcard answer will do fine, cheers.

Does anyone know how many/what floors Transport for London will occupy ? :P

Renzo Piano is possibly the best architect in the world today.

Absolutely. And after seeing the Shard growing from its renders, I’d have to put him as my second favourite architect. Santiago Calatrava is my hero.

Cladding now visible on the "from the top of Guys" webcam.

what is the second core for and how many levels will it be?

postcard answer will do fine, cheers.

Its for a 'backpack' section to the shard, about 10-12 levels high :)

what is the second core for and how many levels will it be?

postcard answer will do fine, cheers.

Its for a 'backpack' section to the shard, about 10-12 levels high :)

http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2009/02/2313glassshard_415x443.jpg

Does anyone know how many/what floors Transport for London will occupy ? :P


TfL have taken 7 floors (nos 4-11). These are most of the the floors with the "back pack" extension and are obviously the largest floorplates. TfL got a good deal on the rent (£38.50 /sq ft I think) but committed to a long 30 year lease - the developers will want much more for the 20 or so higher office floors.

This looks very nice but I was wondering how accurate it is. it looks like there is a staircase in the middle that keeps going up into thin air.:)

For maintenance access?

^^ Maintenance for what - the sky?

For maintenance access?

I doubt it, it looks more like a stairway to heaven lol. I think it's a rendering mistake.

Looks sublime.I think some that have the Pinnacle as favourite may just change their minds...
The cladding looks unbelievable.

Looks sublime.I think some that have the Pinnacle as favourite may just change their minds...
The cladding looks unbelievable.

I agree it looks really good but for me the pinnnacle remains on top. Not just design wise but position aswell. The pinnacle is part of the cluster where as the shard is on it's own looking like it's been sent to coventry lol.

Well,i don't know about isolation being detrimental.True,would be better if it were not sitting next to Guys.I still think that a poll of Shard vs Pinnacle would be best held once both are complete.I'm not sure,but definately glad we're getting both 8-)

Couple from yesterday.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4696902439_9e477b75fb_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4697569092_061c733e36_b.jpg

I just hope they install decent ceilings and nice interior lights, as with the blinds open that's what you will see from ground level with that amazingly transparent cladding lol. Fingers crossed Pinnacle uses similarly high quality stuff.

Just followed the floor sides up (thanks DarJoLe) It'll reach DarJoLes last post! this is going to be a beast...

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii282/megalothian/4696902439_9e477b75fb_b.jpg

Yes,and only 117 of 309 metres.When it reaches 126 metres,it'll still be another Tower42 height to go lol.Looong way to go yet.And,as apparent in those pic's,the highly reflective glass taking the sky is great

IT'S JUST SOOOOO DAMN TALL!

I am in love with this building. :banana:

Few pics from today :) Nothing has changed since yesterday ofcourse ...

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7210/dsc00683o.jpg

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3839/dsc00673x.jpg

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5723/dsc00694r.jpg

and a funny zig-zag one :D

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/584/panodm.jpg

wow!! :-)

Well,i don't know about isolation being detrimental.True,would be better if it were not sitting next to Guys.I still think that a poll of Shard vs Pinnacle would be best held once both are complete.I'm not sure,but definately glad we're getting both 8-)

yeah... by the same token I don't think the shard would fit in the city cluster, maybe it's of such quality that it's able to stand on it's own - i just like the pinnacle more ( though i reserve the right to change my mind lol )

From TFL press release..

TfL concludes multi-million pound negotiation as London Bridge Quarter buys out Shard lease agreement
14 June 2010

Transport for London (TfL) opts not to occupy the Shard, and will review market options for later alternatives. Accommodation efficiency savings on track for £160m.

This is an excellent deal for TfL and London

Charles Stafford, TfL's Director of Group Property and Facilities
TfL today announced that it has sold its lease agreement at the Shard in a deal that will contribute a multi-million pound cash sum to TfL's established efficiency savings programme.

London Bridge Quarter (LBQ), a joint venture between the State of Qatar and Sellar Property Group, has acquired TfL's agreement to lease nearly 200,000 sq ft of office accommodation in the Shard at London Bridge.

The precise terms of TfL's deal with LBQ are commercially confidential.

As a result of agreeing an excellent commercial deal, TfL will continue to occupy its current portfolio of head office buildings and will review market options for the next step of its long-term accommodation consolidation strategy, while always seeking the best value for money.

Last year TfL announced that in light of financial pressures - including a drop in Tube passenger numbers due to the economy and the impact of the collapse of Metronet - it was doubling its efficiency programme to over £5bn to safeguard investment in the Tube, deliver Crossrail and improve and expand London's transport network.

To help deliver the £5bn savings, £160m in efficiencies have been identified from rationalisation of accommodation into hubs outside central London, that bring together staff previously based across a large number of more expensive and older properties..(continues)


So what do we make of this then? The developers have bought TfL out - they must be very confident of getting higher rents.

Bit of a bummer for those TfL folk on here that were looking forward to moving in. I guess if the lease has been sold, it makes no odds to the tower itself, they just get the rent from someone else.

Its good news for Sellar as they can now get higher rents for the offices. It could be also be good for a fringe location as Tfl may now look at occupying a new building elsewhere.

Bit of a shame to some old time posters who were looking forward to moving into LBT.

Its for a 'backpack' section to the shard, about 10-12 levels high :)

Hi, first time I've posted but I've been following the forum as I work for the drawing office detailing the steel.
Anyway, the backpack has 19 levels with the 19th being the roof top.

Bit of a bummer for those TfL folk on here that were looking forward to moving in. I guess if the lease has been sold, it makes no odds to the tower itself, they just get the rent from someone else.

In my experience people don’t like moving office anyway (even into brand new purpose built offices) more fool them. Several of my JPM chums don’t want to move to CW for example.

Does anyone know how many/what floors Transport for London will occupy ? :P
None now as they've been kicked out.

from Property week news

"Transport for London will no longer become the first office tenant at the Shard at London Bridge as the developers look to position the building at the “top end” of the London market.


The transport body was lined up to take nearly 200,000 sq ft at the landmark development, part of the £2bn London Bridge Quarter scheme. However, the partners on the scheme - Sellar Property Group and the State of Qatar - have now acquired TfL’s pre-let agreement.

They will work closely with TfL to help it find alternative accommodation.

A spokesman for London Bridge Quarter said: “This agreement enables us to position the Shard at the very top end of the London office market. Together, the Shard and London Bridge Place will deliver more than 1m sq ft of Grade A offices located on one of London’s busiest transport hubs in a landmark building of the highest quality.”

The change of plan follows a number of high profile deals in the City of London to major occupiers, leaving a lack of supply and rising rents which the Shard’s developers believe it is well placed to capitalise on when it completes in May 2012.

The building comprises 586,000 sq ft of office space along with a hotel, apartments, and retail and leisure space.

It is part of the wider £2bn London Bridge Quarter scheme, designed by Renzo Piano, around London Bridge station, which also includes the 419,000 sq ft London Bridge Place office, a square, a redeveloped station concourse and a new bus station."

So who will get that sought after Grade A office space?

A spokesman for London Bridge Quarter said: “This agreement enables us to position the Shard at the very top end of the London office market. Together, the Shard and London Bridge Place will deliver more than 1m sq ft of Grade A offices located on one of London’s busiest transport hubs in a landmark building of the highest quality



Indeed a change in politics leaves Sellar laughing all the way to the bank. Office space in the the tallest tower alongside Shangri La and premium apartments. Not a municipal office worker to be seen...Sorry about the dissappointment Tony et al.

Wonder if the plan was always to buy TfL out - create confidence in the project by lining up an anchor tenant, then switch to a more lucrative one once the build is safely underway...

maybe but still v risky strategy in this climate.

Funding would be dependant on agreements for lease (pre-let) and TfL's gilt-edged covenant strength would've been v attractive so probably a case of get someone of that calibre in to secure funding but keep options open for when tower comes out of ground (enthusiasm builds) and economy picks up. Perfect timing.

Wonder if the plan was always to buy TfL out - create confidence in the project by lining up an anchor tenant, then switch to a more lucrative one once the build is safely underway...

I doubt it, why look for a conspiracy round every corner. It can most probably just be taken at face value.

Well, I shan't mention my former employer in case of the usual moans, suffice to say they would quite like to stay in the location of their former office block Southwark Towers now the Shard. Plus, they would like to get rid of Embankment Place above Charing X despite its locality to government departments. The rents charged there are too high. So who knows...

So who will get that sought after Grade A office space?If it's not PwC (oops, mentioned them) then one of the other big accountants or lawyers. I don't see one of the big banks going there because they like to stick together, nor insurance as they'll stick by Lloyd's.

An outside option could be a media company. If ITV weren't in such a state, they might fancy the location just up the river from their other studios. Time Warner's subsidiary companies are all over the area, as are other papers and magazines all along the South Bank.

But, I'd place bets it'll be one of the big 4 accountants or lawyers.

If it's not PwC (oops, mentioned them) then one of the other big accountants or lawyers. I don't see one of the big banks going there because they like to stick together, nor insurance as they'll stick by Lloyd's.

Virgin should run their 'Space Plane' travel agents/marketing center etc from there. That would be cool...

It's a shame about TFL, but I was always a little surprised they went for office space in the Shard in the first place, I was waiting for something like this to happen.

I think TFL would have given the building even more of a feel of a 'mixed' building. I know it will still be a public space, but if the whole building (office space) is used for Grade 'A' offices, it may feel a little too corporate. Too many suits.

Thanks for all the great photos from everyone - much appreciated. Good to see this great progress after all these years of waiting and watching.

But, I'd place bets it'll be one of the big 4 accountants or lawyers.

Not sure the lawyers would go there. The big magic circle firms have all taken space relatively recently - typically in Canary Wharf or Square Mile - and I can't see too many of the next tier firms (who are the only ones with the space requirements) wanting to move to London Bridge. Larger law firms tend to stick to City, Mid-town (Holborn/Chancery Lane) or Canary Wharf. I guess you might get a trailblazer willing to re-locate to such a landmark building but I can't see it.

....I tend to agree with you about the law firms, but the accountants traditionally stuck to the Holborn area and they spread their wings a bit, so who knows.

....I tend to agree with you about the law firms, but the accountants traditionally stuck to the Holborn area and they spread their wings a bit, so who knows.

True. Norton Rose were "brave" enough to go to More London and BLP are just over the bridge at Adelaide House. Maybe Linklaters will see sense and get out of Silk Street.

Umm, interesting, I think LBQ must have a high profile tennat lined up, some one who does not want public services workers in the same building as their landmark HQ

....I wonder whom that might be.:)

I wouldn't bother speculating as its doubtful they will even begin to market the tower until closer the time when rents have risen. This building will be one of Europe's unique addresses so any number of businesses may take space here. Indeed they may decided to multi-let it on a floor by floor basis. It could even be a Russian/Indian or Chinese company wanting to make its presence felt so I would not restrict this to large banking and accountancy firms.

But I personally can't think of a company, other than the traditional City institutions, which are large enough to warrant taking all the office space in the Shard. Certainly no Indian, Chinese or Russian company has a large enough presence in this country to warrant space for thousands of office workers.

Most of the FTSE 100 companies, that I'm aware of, are quite happy where they are. Although there was talk of BT wanting to move some years ago, but heard nothing since. Pearson, via the FT and other subsidiaries, has a large presence on the South Bank. But I can't think of anyone outside the traditional city institutions which needs such a large space and more importantly has the dosh to pay for it.

Hope it doesn't go multi-let (except the hotel and flats) would prefer one large company to take all the space.

Told you TFL wouldnt be able to afford the rents for long!!

Here's a few webcam shots this evening from "sunny" London:

http://i48.************/m7evcz.jpg

http://i50.************/35jm7h3.jpg

http://i46.************/290ztw6.jpg

Told you TFL wouldnt be able to afford the rents for long!!I suspect, but don't know, that Boris somehow managed to get out of the deal.

Already looks like a monster 'scraper from Southwark Bridge Road.

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv339/BorderBoy3/shard1-5.jpg

:eek2: Progress is excellent

Just imagine how massive it will look when finished from this angle
Also I was near Crystal palace the other day and I could just about see the core blended into Guys Hospital; a real milestone if its visible from 2,3 miles away!

I'm probably wrong but as I cycled past (rapidly unfortunately) this evening I thought it looked as if one of the glass panels was broken? Will look tomorrow morning more carefully.

Well, one of the panels on St Thomas Street was certainly MIA at lunch time.

I was out and about with just my 50mm lens today and grabbed a few shots as I was passing by.

B/W processing just because it felt right :)

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105507-2/20100614_0023.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105561-2/20100614_0033.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105543-2/20100614_0041.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105537-2/20100614_0043.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105531-2/20100614_0046.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105519-2/20100614_0054.jpg

Dumb question, but what's going on here? It looks as though a hurricane has just blown through.



http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/105519-2/20100614_0054.jpg

They're fixing the reinforcement for the level 2 floor slab on Joiner Street

Hi all, I have been following this thread for a while but finally got round to registering :)

My office overlooks the Tower of London and have been watching the core rising, now I can see the steel frame, it's starting to look really good!

BTW great photos uploaded here, keep them coming! I've been taking some too but can't upload them here just yet.

I Have also been following this thread for a few months and signed up today. Have been loving all the pictures and progress reports so far and cant wait for more. I live in Cambridge but spend at least a weekend a month in London so I'll hopefully have some pics to add soon, although they wont be of the same quality as some of the excellent photographers on here.

I guess coming to London only one weekend a month you can really see the progression of the construction! I went on holiday for two weeks then noticed two extra floors!:)

Two floors is common place when we’re talking about the Shard haha. I need to get myself down to London. Just looked and return ticket from Wrexham is £48, that’s very reasonable. So I’ll be popping down for a day soon.

Welcome to the forum mattomatto and MMetzner :cheers:

Can't make out the numbers on the webcam so am I right in thinking floor 31 has appeared in the last few hours?

yes, it has

At what point do we think the tower cranes will get connected to the steel? Looking at the webcams surely the cranes have have to be raised quite soon?

can't wait for this to be topped out... :D and it's not like it's gonna take millions of years either :) ... like 122 Leadenhall is/will :(

Definitely taller than Guys now :banana:

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv339/BorderBoy3/shard2-4.jpg

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv339/BorderBoy3/shard3-2.jpg

Definitely taller than Guys now :banana:



:ohno: No it is not

Floor 31 showing,means floor 32 and 33 being formed,which is at 121 metres,same as the lower level of Guys.
22 metres to top Guys.
Only 188 metres until Shard of glass is topped out.

.

can't wait for this to be topped out... :D and it's not like it's gonna take millions of years either :) ... like 122 Leadenhall is/will :(

Featured on ''Britain from above''.INcluded a nice video render of London,complete with shard/pinnacle/cheesegrater/heron/walkie talkie. Brilliant

5-shot pano today of the view from Maltby Street, SE16: View Large (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cybertect/4704135988/sizes/o/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4704135988_4b7ca86968_b.jpg

Big article in The Times about TFL pulling out of The Shard. No link because I'd have to give Murdoch money to subscribe.

How does the size of the building's footprint compare to the likes of T42 and the Gherkin? Is it considerably wider? (Don't hesitate to elaborate)

How does the size of the building's footprint compare to the likes of T42 and the Gherkin? Is it considerably wider?

Yes.

Big article in The Times about TFL pulling out of The Shard. No link because I'd have to give Murdoch money to subscribe.

Transport for London will abandon its plans to move into the Shard at London Bridge after a deal that allows the skyscraper’s owners to find tenants willing to pay a much higher rent. The sale of the lease to London Bridge Quarter, the landlord that is a joint venture between the State of Qatar and Sellar Property Group, will allow it to re-let the 200,000 sq ft involved more than a third of the available office space — for what it hopes will be more money amid a looming shortage of prime office space in the capital. The lease with TfL was signed in 2006 for a rate of £38.50 per sq ft for occupation from May 2012, the expected completion date for the building. Office rents in London then plummeted during the downturn and bottomed out last summer but have recovered rapidly since and are expected to rise further as supply dwindles and demand continues to rise. The deal allows TfL to raise cash at a time when the transport group is aiming to save £5 billion of costs, £160 million of which is due to come from consolidation of its 50 office buildings around London. It said yesterday that the sale of the 30-year lease would contribute “a multimillion-pound cash sum” to its efficiency savings programme, but would not disclose the amount. The sharp fall in development during the downturn has resulted in a decline in the pipeline of vacant space in London, especially in the City, relative to the number of occupiers looking for new offices. Landlords including Sellar believe that this will lead to more competition and an increase in rent levels for prime offices around the boundaries of the Square Mile, as well as inside it. Rents for prime offices in the City have risen to about £50 per sq ft, from a £44 per sq ft low last year, according to an annual survey by according to Knight Frank. They are expected to continue to increase to £67 per sq ft for the best space by 2014, with the rises spreading out into the City’s fringes, including locations such as London Bridge. The London Underground owner is likely to move some of its staff further out of Central London rather than to the Shard, but said that it was “too early to say” where it would move and which staff would be affected. TfL said that it would continue to occupy its portfolio of head office buildings and would review options for new accommodation later on. Charles Stafford, its director of property, said: “TFL secured a great deal for its lease agreement in the Shard in 2006. Since then, rental rates have risen considerably and the deal we have negotiated with London Bridge Quarter reflects this.” TfL owns offices at Baker Street, Buckingham Palace Road, Broadway and Edgware Road and rents its present headquarters at Windsor House in Westminster, as well as the Palestra Building in Southwark where it moved in 2008, and Pier Walk, in North Greenwich, which it has occupied since last year. The TFL letting was one of two pre-lets signed before construction work began on the tower at 32 London Bridge which will be the tallest in Europe at 310m (1,017ft) when complete. The other, to the Shangri-La hotel group, remains in place. A spokesman for London Bridge Quarter said: “This agreement enables us to position the Shard at the very top end of the London office market. Together, the Shard and London Bridge Place will deliver more than one million sq ft of grade A offices located on one of London’s busiest transport hubs in in a landmark building of the highest quality.” The development is part of the £2 billion London Bridge Quarter regeneration project around London Bridge Station on the South Bank of the Thames and includes the 419,000 sq ft net London Bridge Place office building, a public piazza, a redeveloped station concourse and a new bus station. The project has been designed by Renzo Piano and will be completed in 2013. Tall order 310m Height of the Shard, making it the tallest building in the EU 87 Number of floors, 75 of which will be full sized 7,000 People will work in the tower £425m Cost to build 2012 Estimated completion date Source: Times research

edit

Hello iam new to the site ! iam loving watching the shard go up!

Good times! As am I!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1297/4703950317_1d9b8e989f.jpg

Sweet :cool:

Hi all.... a few from tonight with wide angle lens in tow. You can't really get a sense of the sheer scale of the project and floorplates till you see it up close.

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/1.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/2.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/3.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/4.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/5.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/6.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/7.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/8.jpg

http://www.castrocorp.com/ssn/9.jpg

Ooh! a second row of glazing!

great. can't wait to go down to london at the end of october

International-one you little beauty. Seems I can’t go a day without been given a Shard image update. Great to see another level on the glazing going in.

Had a nose on my way homes yesterday and the 'backpack' core is up to 5-6 stories.....generally lots of activity at the rear.....as the actress said to the bishop

Think I'll bring my camera to work tomorrow and take a lunchtime walk down there especially if it's a nice day :)

great. can't wait to go down to london at the end of october

The Shard will look great by October :D

Of all the threads over the last few years, this one has certainly grabbed the atttention of the many and varied. New people have begun appearing all over the place. Welcome one and all to our passion :)

hi became a member of this site on the 1st june...

love following the progress of these great new skyscrapers :)

it looks to me like the steel work for the next 2 floors has started, possibly?
if you look at the webcam on top of the station directed towards guys you can see some steel just below the tower crane on the right.
Going up so fast!

I notice everyone is looking forward to October, Is there any particular significance towards that month?

For me its the NFL game at wembly stadium

Of all the threads over the last few years, this one has certainly grabbed the atttention of the many and varied. New people have begun appearing all over the place. Welcome one and all to our passion :)

... and our sickness :)

I notice everyone is looking forward to October, Is there any particular significance towards that month?

Shard concrete core may reach full height 240 metres

it looks to me like the steel work for the next 2 floors has started, possibly?
if you look at the webcam on top of the station directed towards guys you can see some steel just below the tower crane on the right.
Going up so fast!

Indeed that's the case, quite a lot done today too!

it looks to me like the steel work for the next 2 floors has started, possibly?
if you look at the webcam on top of the station directed towards guys you can see some steel just below the tower crane on the right.
Going up so fast!

Yep, Thats Levels 14 and 15 of the main tower started.

Backpack steel will be going up in around 2 weeks.

What will this look like by the end of the year?

Yep, Thats Levels 14 and 15 of the main tower started.

Backpack steel will be going up in around 2 weeks.

levels 14 & 15 are complete on 3 sides of the core , we started erecting levels 16 & 17 around 6.00pm tonight on the station side..