The tolerances being worked to on this project are incredibly tight. Imagine a steel frame 12 to 15 tonnes, welded or bolted and some 10 metres long having to go together to a dead measured length of 1mm +/-.


Blimey that's a tight tolerance! I presume those beams are all prefabricated then? I'm curious about the tensile strength of the white steel shown in the pictures - Surely there's a great deal of compressive strain given the weight of steel placed on top!

Thanks for the update! Very much appreciated! And thanks for that info stuartbeales. Im sure you will keep everyone on here informed when this beautiful building rises and rises onto the skyline.

Terrific thanks Stuart and ffynbryn for the technical info - it must be a first to have this level of expertise on SSN. Some more pics for you guys from today (and please feel free to use them however)

Wide shot showing the unpainted sections along the Bishopsgate frontage;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08086.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08070.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08090.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08068.jpg

The Camomile St side;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08087.jpg

From London Wall Highwalk;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08082.jpg

The large Ainscough crane looks to be heading home;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08075.jpg

The crane needs to move so they can finish off installing the beams, as it's sitting on the area where thhe beams to complete the frame need to go.

Firstly an update on Intumescent paint from our Paint Dept. Apparently, all of (our) intumescent paint is white and it is merely the top coat sealer that is either architecturally spec'd grey or white. I had presumed that they were different fire ratings as the stability frame appears to be white and the rest not - but this is not the case.

When John Severs convinced the designers that we could change the design to allow more pre-welded beam connections (saving thousands of bolts and erection time), it was on the promise that the lateral tolerances could be achieved as there would be fewer bolted connections with the usual 2mm clearance around the bolt to beam hole to allow the building to be erected plumb.

Similarly, milling the mating faces to the top and bottom of columns, means that if they are not square, then the building doesn't go up straight or if columns are different lengths it has the same effect.

In the fab shop, I use a Leica TCA2002 with a precision corner cube reflector, capable of measuring distances to +/-0.2mm. Steel is generally cut 10mm long (with "green" end) and milled to length. After the first milling pass, the length is determined to +/- 0.2mm and the milling machine can reduce the length digitally (via 0.01mm readout) to the required length.

The stability frames are fabricated in a jig which allows the column separation to be maintained and the intermediate beams to be milled exactly to length.

The stability columns for the 2nd-12th floor are milled 4129mm long (one floor), but are expected to shrink 1mm due to compression.

The latest pics look great. :)

Terrific thanks Stuart and ffynbryn for the technical info - it must be a first to have this level of expertise on SSN.

it is most definitely for the london forum. if you want to see other technical stuff you may want to check out the st pauls place thread in the sheffield forum which has the architects, the city council, the former development manager, the crane driver and even the administrators for the now defunct developer posting on it. i'm pleased though that we finally have that sort of thing going on for a MAJOR project publicly and i hope the same thing can happen with the pinnacle.

i was wondering if you could post a couple of pics of actually producing the steel?

Great to have people involved in this project posting on SCC and watch the city's new tallest rising in the middle of the credit crunch/recession. Reminds me of the Empire State building in New York, built during the depression.

i was wondering if you could post a couple of pics of actually producing the steel?

There might be a copyright issue with that on the production side - but I'll try to get something of the finished steel...

yes, obviously there's the issue of commercial confidentiality but it would be nice to see your company (and others) in action here. good PR for you too, this website gets an insane amount of visits.

In the fab shop, I use a Leica TCA2002 with a precision corner cube reflector, capable of measuring distances to +/-0.2mm. Steel is generally cut 10mm long (with "green" end) and milled to length. After the first milling pass, the length is determined to +/- 0.2mm and the milling machine can reduce the length digitally (via 0.01mm readout) to the required length.

lol, i was using a Leica two man instrument to survey a building earlier today, and yours sounds much more advanced than what i was using! mine kept buggering up all day!:lol: drove me :nuts:

However, as stuartbeals says, surveying is a vital part of the process and without them these projects would soon become completely unfeasible. To within +- 1mm on site must be a damn hard thing to get right on every single beam being used in the construction of the tower!

your lucky to be surveying this project, not stuck in the middle of nowhere like i was earlier!!

when is superstructure construction scheduled to begin?

Was going to be November, but looking at the new schedule it's more likely Feb/March now.

That was in September. Good to see things in London actually do move faster when the ball gets rolling. It's proof to all those pesimistic cocks good things regarding skyscrapers in London actually do happen.

P.S - This isn't a stab at Foxy.

echo all the sentiments shared on here today - I'm an architectural happy amateur working on the financing side, and a frustrated urban planner. This tower makes me most happy.

Terrific thanks Stuart and ffynbryn for the technical info - it must be a first to have this level of expertise on SSN. Some more pics for you guys from today (and please feel free to use them however)

Wide shot showing the unpainted sections along the Bishopsgate frontage;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08086.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08070.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08090.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08068.jpg

The Camomile St side;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08087.jpg

From London Wall Highwalk;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08082.jpg

The large Ainscough crane looks to be heading home;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/6nov08075.jpg

Thank you fitz...whats with the sky blue beams? Work experience?

^^ Mark, did you have to quote the pictures too? It makes things look more cluttered :nuts:

Given all the caring and sharing that's going on here, I thought I'd dig out some very early days sketches that have defined the building we see rising today. Building design is a very high-tech business, but you'd be surprised just how fundamental the things that drive building shape, form and aesthetics are.

A few people have asked where the core is on this building, given the absence of the usual concrete hulk on this build. These early-doors sketches provide the answer:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AtifR/herondevelopment.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AtifR/central.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AtifR/perimeter.jpg

Basically, the site wasn't big enough to support a standard core - the usable floorspace would've made the building uneconomic to build. By moving all the structure to the outside, you open up the internal space and make it much more usable. Plus, KPF get to play with the glorious external structural aesthetic we see now. Huge fan of KPF, myself.

And a final sketch showing the pile design. For anyone who's ever wondered what piles are, I hope this helps provide the answer - they're basically giant pegs that root the building into the ground to absorb the weight of the building above and transfer it into the ground.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AtifR/pilesbmp-1.jpg

so what i want to know now is will the exterior structural expressionism allow the interior office space to be column free? i assume the lift shafts are all located on the outside too a-la rogers?

Panorama taken from Skanska office this week.

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/images/051108.jpg

Also some Quicktime Panoramas:

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/bishopsgate.mov

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/skybar.mov

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/reception.mov

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/officevillage.mov

The Reception movie shows the famous see-through Aquarium.

The Office Village movie shows how the building is divided into 3 floor compartment layers with a central atrium - and all open plan except for the atrium corners.

Thanks very much. I'm loving the above pano. Much appreciated.

yes thanks for the different perspective :okay:

Also some Quicktime Panoramas:

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/bishopsgate.mov

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/skybar.mov

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/reception.mov

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/heron_tower/officevillage.mov

The Reception movie shows the famous see-through Aquarium.

The Office Village movie shows how the building is divided into 3 floor compartment layers with a central atrium - and all open plan except for the atrium corners.Thanks for the Quicktime Panoramas.

Maybe the fish tank is so "see-through" that I can't see it at all! There does appear to be a curious trail of purplish pixels above the reception desk itself. Are they fish in an invisibly transparent tank?? :dunno:

Also will the bar at the top be open to the public??

^^ life is weird...I found one of my goldfish dead in the pond today....not surprising with 4 cats...heyho.

yerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

anyways.

the panos from ffinybryn and chiefs post.. two excellent posts. I really appreciated, thank you.

loving this picture. it shows the first real glimpses of the tower beyond being a nice metal scaffold to hang those pesky bankers from :)

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/images/051108.jpg

I assume this is gallow humour!

Another cool site pic from Flickr, this one is from the end of October though:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2987113599_f0882e542b_b.jpg

wow! If only there was a webcam up there!

Will those streets around the site be pedestrianised?

Will those streets around the site be pedestrianised?

Only the one to the north which is where that yellow crane currently is.

excellent view of the whole site. Glad its not a fixed cam, as this baby is going up sharpish.

Here is an article about the construction of the basements in Heron Tower

Source: http://www.khl.com/magazines/international-cranes-and-specialized-transport/detail/item28780/Ainscough-800-tonner-on-stilts-in-London/

Ainscough 800 tonner on stilts in London
Written by Euan Youdale - 04 Nov 2008


Ainscough uses a Terex Demag AC 2000 to install steel columns for a London tower block. The narrow road required two outriggers to be placed on stilts.
Heron Tower will be one of the tallest buildings in London, UK. It occupies the entire footprint of a small site bordered by public roads on all four sides.

Three Terex Comedil tower cranes owned by Select have been installed to erect the main building. Their 16 tonne individual lifting capacity was insufficient for the steel columns that had to be craned in to form the basement of the new building.

Individual columns weighed more than 40 tonnes and, combined with the limited space within the footprint of the building, the only answer was to position a large mobile crane immediately adjacent to the site boundary.

Given the restraints of the road system, the only solution was to position the crane in Houndsditch, a major city street next to the site. This presented its own problems as the road width was narrower than the outrigger spread of the crane, a wheeled mobile Terex Demag AC 2000.

The structural steel contractor, Severfield Reeve, called in technical experts from Ainscough Crane Hire to assist with the planning and to liaise with the statutory authorities, which had to approve the use of a large crane in a confined space. Ainscough produced a plan to place outrigger mats for two of the supports spreading over a utility tunnel. The other two outriggers were supported by 4 m high trestles on the base of the excavated site.

With Houndsditch temporarily closed off to vehicle traffic but with a pedestrian route being maintained to provide access to adjacent buildings, the entire area of the road and nearside footpath was covered in a 100 mm thick sand and cement dry mix, over which a double layer of Trax heavy-duty aluminium roadway panels was laid.

Below each roadside outrigger of the 800 tonne capacity crane, five 7.5 x 2.2 m steel mats were positioned, bridged over by an 11 x 3 m steel mat sitting on Ethafoam pads, to give an effective bearing area of 97 square metres. This arrangement brought the bearing pressure at the original road surface down to 1.65 tonnes per square metre, which proved acceptable to the authorities.

The height of this multiple arrangement of load spreading mats meant the wheels of the crane had to be at least 750 mm above road level so that the outrigger legs could swing out into the working position. This was achieved by reversing the crane up a temporary ramp onto a raised pad constructed from timber crane mats.

To support the crane's outriggers where they projected out over the excavated foundations of the new building, construction solutions company Severfield Reeve designed and fabricated 4 m high structural steel trestles, to support Ainscough's load spreading steel mats.

Installing the crane and its supports in 10 truckloads of equipment took 10 people two days. The AC 2000 used 160 tonnes of counterweight and sideways superlift with 55.5 m of main boom. This meant the 40 tonne steel columns could be installed at up to 40 m radius.

just throught people might like to read it too.

Interesting!

<Snip>

That really does show how small the site really is.

To support the crane's outriggers where they projected out over the excavated foundations of the new building, construction solutions company Severfield Reeve designed and fabricated 4 m high structural steel trestles, to support Ainscough's load spreading steel mats.

Not only did the designers have to contend with an underground tunnel running underneath Hounsditch, but also that the crane had to be supported over the basement...

http://www.engineeringsurveyor.com/images/051108-2.jpg

Good progress so far, god this baby is shooting up!

wow. talk about a difficult site to build on. its easy to forget central london has a whole network of tunnels just under the street that make it extremely hard to build on site sometimes...

This isnt the greatest of places to ask, but what are all the 'smoke outlet' signs on the floor in the city around all these buildings?

This isnt the greatest of places to ask, but what are all the 'smoke outlet' signs on the floor in the city around all these buildings?

someone may need to correct me but i think they are for basements / underground car parks, in case of a fire. The vents are lifted so smoke can escape, like a chimney.

Spot on.

A lot of properties' boundaries extend out on to the pavement, which is why there's often an untidy join between the well-maintained local authority owned bit of the pavement nearest the road, and the privately owned, often poorly maintained strip closest to the property.

Where there's a basement below the privately owned bit of the pavement pavement, there's a need to provide a vent for smoke exhaust/clearance in the event of a fire (above ground this can be provided by opening/smashing windows). So where you see a big panel saying 'smoke outlet', the fire brigade would open that to let all the smoke out of the basement once they've fought the fire. In other places, when you're walking down the pavement and you see all those little glass squares under your feet, they serve two purposes. One is letting natural light into the basement. The second is as a smoke outlet - the fire brigade would smash all the glass squares to let smoke out.

It's something that doesn't get discussed a lot on SSC, but fire regulations are a fundamental driver on building design - sizes and positions of cores, entrances, glazing to name a few. I've been very surprised how heavily fire engineering influences what the designers can and can't do.

Thanks, interesting!

More steel beams (short, unpainted) were being delivered this lunchtime from a low-loader on Bishopsgate.

Great stuff, thanks for letting everyone know =]

update - a bit boring because we know its not going to rise for a few weeks, but still working away even on Saturday

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/hero.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/hero2.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/hero3.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/hero4.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/hero5.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/hero6.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/hero7.JPG

Thanks for the update. Seems the tower cranes are working away now. And also, really good to see those diagonal beams on either side of what will be the back of the tower. Exciting times are nearing for this.

grim day for photos, but there were plenty of people working away on site and lots sparks from welders in the sheeted off section.....

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9950/img2259wc9.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6896/img2260ls7.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/1044/img2261ru6.jpg

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1580/img2262xn6.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2462/img2263yr1.jpg

What is happening behind the white sheeting? What's it for?

sparks from welders in the sheeted off section.....


pretty much answers your question? Sparks mean tiny flying metal pieces and not really ideal to have them flying all over the place next to some walkway..

Concrete pump on site and looks like the ground floor slab has started.

Can anyone tell me why the are building this tower in this manner? i.e they are building the ground and 1st/2nd floors then the 3 floor basement and 46 floor superstructure, why not just build the basement first and work your way up

Is it too much to hope for that they add another batch of 4 or even 8 floors?

Maybe, I'll actually love it just the same. Almost :)

Here are some pics I took today. Bit of activity on site but nothing substantial.

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/8732/dsc02316ay7.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/4534/dsc02318rv5.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/1974/dsc02328bx9.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/9387/dsc02320uq7.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1627/dsc02327ap5.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3238/dsc02326vv9.jpg

Good to see the concrete pump working away!

Thanks octoman - with each photo update the building seems to get more complex and wider. its really starting to use up all of the available footprint now.

I have not been too involved with the construction sequence, but can give my views on the plan of attack so far.

The main columns from basement to 2nd floor were installed into shafts below ground level to allow steel erection to continue before the basement had finished being excavated. Known as "Top-down" construction.

There is now a pause whilst a floor slab is poured to allow the basement construction to progress below a safe physical barrier. It is not good practice to erect steel over the top of other workers. Things sometimes get dropped and fall-off during erection (bolts, nuts, spanners, hammers etc).

Once the slab is cast, the basement can be excavated and finished off whilst the next phase of steel continues above. After erecting a few more floors in January, another floor will be poured below which others can be poured in safety.

I have not been too involved with the construction sequence, but can give my views on the plan of attack so far.

The main columns from basement to 2nd floor were installed into shafts below ground level to allow steel erection to continue before the basement had finished being excavated. Known as "Top-down" construction.

There is now a pause whilst a floor slab is poured to allow the basement construction to progress below a safe physical barrier. It is not good practice to erect steel over the top of other workers. Things sometimes get dropped and fall-off during erection (bolts, nuts, spanners, hammers etc).

Once the slab is cast, the basement can be excavated and finished off whilst the next phase of steel continues above. After erecting a few more floors in January, another floor will be poured below which others can be poured in safety.

Good explanation Ffinybryn - thanks :)

Thanks for that!

Ah - so progress vertically will slow now until January? So we'll still see the Gherkin for a while then. :D

http://fc11.deviantart.com/fs39/i/2008/327/6/1/Heron_Tower_7_by_JohnnySix.jpg



The following was a combination of several shots to get a wider angle - hence the two planes and the broken crane wires. :D

http://fc99.deviantart.com/fs38/i/2008/327/c/a/Heron_Tower_6_by_JohnnySix.jpg

Nice pictures, Im looking foward to seeing how this will look as it rises from the view seen in the first picture.

are black cabs being tacken over by blue ones now.(bottom left)

are black cabs being tacken over by blue ones now.(bottom left)

??

Loads of "black" cabs carry advertising. It's not a new phenomenon.

No offence but are you sure you live in London? ;)

I like to two planes chasing each other.

I like to two planes chasing each other.
You should see it a few seconds later!
http://www.bluetang.co.uk/images/dogfight.jpg

You should see it a few seconds later!
http://www.bluetang.co.uk/images/dogfight.jpg

... heavy.

BA and Lufthansa must have been having another one of their dogfights. We haven't seen this many in the skies over the SE since 1940!

??

Loads of "black" cabs carry advertising. It's not a new phenomenon.

No offence but are you sure you live in London? ;)it's a joke

Pretty dam bad joke.

Pretty dam bad joke.

well, you better watch out as if his avatar is anything to go by you might find yourself on the receiving end of a whack job :wink2:

Pretty dam bad joke.

alright funnyboy we now that it was a shitty joke:lol:

Security men wear yellow jackets now? bottom right.


only joking :)

You should see it a few seconds later!
http://www.bluetang.co.uk/images/dogfight.jpg


haha - awesome. :lol:

Security men wear yellow jackets now? bottom right.


only joking :)

don't give me any of that smartalec shit:lol:

cant help it.

come on team, enough banter. Let's get some photo updates.......pretty please.

Security men wear yellow jackets now? bottom right.


only joking :)

haha, but this one was really good!

PS: appearently the steelwork progress is over for quite a while now so I think a bit of distractionist banter is ok

a bit of banter never hurt anyone

You should see it a few seconds later!
http://www.bluetang.co.uk/images/dogfight.jpg

My first actual LOL in the construction forums!

The steelwork is only over until January.

Rib deck on second floor going down today

Yep that would make sense.
It will take a couple of weeks to complete the steel ribbing and then pour the floor, then it'll be Christmas and the site will shut down for a couple of weeks until Jan, and thats when this will start to impact on the skyline:)

Yep that would make sense.
It will take a couple of weeks to complete the steel ribbing and then pour the floor, then it'll be Christmas and the site will shut down for a couple of weeks until Jan, and thats when this will start to impact on the skyline:)
:drool:

sorry, couldn't help it

I think the drool sums it up nicely, comdot!

Absolutely. Whatever the uncertainties about other projects, this one is going to have us on the edge of our seat throughout the whole of next year and beyond... bring it on!

I think 2009 is going to be the most exciting year yet. With Shard starting construction to start the year off, this making its mark on the skyline, Bishopsgate Tower starting to rise, Leadenhall restarting......

I think 2009 is going to be the most exciting year yet. With Shard starting construction to start the year off, this making its mark on the skyline, Bishopsgate Tower starting to rise, Leadenhall restarting......

Its a dream world.

Bishopsgate Tower starting to rise, Leadenhall restarting......

Good luck.

Dream? Not at all, its been said that Bishopsgate Tower will not be on hold at all, and British Land have said that The Leadenhall Building will restart late 2009/early 2010.

Dream? Not at all, its been said that Bishopsgate Tower will not be on hold at all, and British Land have said that The Leadenhall Building will restart late 2009/early 2010.

As much as I'd love to believe that, and I really would, I just can't see it. I'm confident about Heron but until the rest start to rise I'll remain dubious. I cannot wait for Leadenhall to restart.

Sparks were flying today behind the sheets as the welders were doing their thing;

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa278/fit3xl/30nov08070.jpg

As much as I'd love to believe that, and I really would, I just can't see it. I'm confident about Heron but until the rest start to rise I'll remain dubious. I cannot wait for Leadenhall to restart.

Bishopsgate Tower has 2 pile rigs and two mobile cranes and diggers all working away, its going ahead. Shard is going ahead regardless too.
Just Leadenhall delayed, but I don't think thats a bad thing really.

Nice photo though, whos knows what the workmen could be doing behind the sheeting ;) Ha, but back to being serious what work at they doing behind there? Some cutting of steel or something?

Whoever is selling all this white sheeting in London must be making a shed-load of cash from the last couple of years! Demo and construction! Good to see real progress being made, Mr Heron isn't mucking around with this one.

First Stage excavation completed and first stage steel erection commenced



First Stage, Bulk, Excavation

The centre of the Heron Tower site has now been executed down to approximately 7 metres below street. This has included breaking out the remainder of the reinforced concrete foundations of the former buildings and a substantial proportion of the mass concrete fill that had been placed in the City Ditch under the former Kempson House.

The Museum of London Archaeological Service maintained a watching brief throughout the operation to record the materials found and evidence of the Ditch profile.

No further excavation will be undertaken until the perimeter secant piled wall has been propped by the construction of the permanent ground floor. Once this has been completed in the New Year, excavation will recommence with teams mining beneath the completed ground floor and spoil being raised to street level through a central hole in the middle of the floor plate, a “mole hole”, left clear for the purpose.



First Stage Steel Erection

Timely completion of the first stage of excavation released the site for the start of first stage steel erection. This consists of the columns and beams that form the structural frame from Basement 3 level to 2nd floor. The ground floor frame will support the reinforced concrete ground floor slab and provide the propping action needed to support the perimeter retaining walls. The second floor frame will allow the second floor slab to be cast, which in due course will separate a “mole hole” operation, excavating underneath from the ground floor, from a continued Tower construction from 2nd floor upwards.

Pile caps have been constructed at Basement 3 level on the top of each of the bearing piles. As previously described, these were constructed from the original basement level within temporary shafts.

Severfield Rowen Structures, the steelwork subcontractor deployed an 800 tonne hydraulic mobile crane within the closed section of Houndsditch, to lift and position the very substantial columns that stand on these piles and carry the Tower. A group of central columns and beams is being installed and temporarily braced to act as a temporary stiffening core.

This core is temporary because unlike most tall buildings which have a central core, the stiffness in the Tower’s permanent structure is provided by the structural steel frame at the perimeter. Stiff, “moment”, connections join substantial perimeter columns and beams together to carry all of the horizontal and torsional forces from the Tower – a “perimeter stability frame”.

The perimeter stability frame commences in a substantial deep steel, upper capping beam placed on the reinforced concrete capping beam that has been formed on the top of perimeter secant piled wall. Connections between this deep beam and the perimeter columns have stiff, moment connections. To allow these connections to be made in the factory, the erection component is an inverted T consisting of a column with a section of perimeter beam attached to the bottom of it. Multiple plated and bolted connections are being made between the sections of steel capping beam. At first and second floor the stiff connections between columns and beams are again made by welding beam stubs to the column in the factory. Heavy, floor level, beams are then installed between the beam stubs with plated and bolted joints. Once the perimeter stability frame is completed and the floors are concreted, the components providing the temporary stiffening core will be removed.

The southern part of the structural frame, that facing Camomile Street, consists of a series of cantilever beams which will stabilise the scenic lifts and the cladding to encase them, and two steel staircases.

The weight and size of these substantial steel members require careful planning and timing of deliveries. Abnormal components are being delivered to arrive after the evening rush hour to comply with transport restrictions, and with little or no space on site to store fabricated sections of these sizes, components for the day’s work must arrive the evening before.

The steelwork is now erected to level 2 and will stop at that level whilst the upper capping beams and ground floor slab are constructed. Once these are completed in mid-January 2009, then the steelwork can recommence at the same time as the “top-down” construction of 3 basements. This is an engineering constraint that requires the low level steelwork to be fully constrained before erection continues. The completed ground floor slab is also required to act as the servicing area for the basement excavation.

Houndsditch Bridge

To transport men and material up the tower during the construction process a number of temporary external hoists will be installed. These are to be located above the closed section of Houndsditch and will be mounted on a steel bridge spanning over the road. Foundations for this bridge will be constructed during November and erection of the bridge is during in December/January

Source: Skanska Website (18/11/2008)

Haven't seen it posted yet. But thought I may as well.

Very interesting, thank you.

Looks like steelwork will commence in mid january.

No visable change today

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc360/londonfire/Picture128_789a.jpg

Nice to see the white sheet of death. i reckon this will be below ground by christmas. Anyone wanna guess when we might see signs of construction or will it be months of piling/digging etc?

Nice to see the white sheet of death. i reckon this will be below ground by christmas. Anyone wanna guess when we might see signs of construction or will it be months of piling/digging etc?

LOL:lol:

they knocking it down already?

:lol:

Nice to see the white sheet of death. i reckon this will be below ground by christmas. Anyone wanna guess when we might see signs of construction or will it be months of piling/digging etc?Just on the off chance that was a serious question.... that is the Heron Tower you see being constructed, not the old one being knocked down. The old buildings have already been demolished.

The white sheet of "death" serves the same function pretty much on constructions that it does on demolitions. To mute the noise of construction/demolition, and to keep the dirt contained. If you're building something its messy, try building a concrete path or do some plastering to find out! The same goes with demolition. In both instances, normally the sites are sprayed with water to stop the dirt flying away and the white sheeting keeps all the mess in.

Why are they covering it up anyway?

:lol:

Why are they covering it up anyway?

There is a lot of welding taking place around the South East stair core. The sheeting is to protect against grinding sparks and welding arc affecting Joe Public. It also acts as a wind and rain break for the welders and more importantly provides fire protection by preventing sparks from entering the site.

A lot of (mis-informed) office workers (and politically correct safety officers) now regularly complain about arc-eye from welding on construction sites. (Burning retinas from looking directly at welding). Meaning a lot of sites now have to provide screens. However, the effects are negligible over about 13m and have no effect through glass.

Many years ago, I got arc-eye from watching welding in a factory (it's just instinctive to watch a bright light) and was woken up at 3am with incredibly stinging eyes. However, there is no danger from watching from street level or behind a glass window.

Very informative...thank you :)

just passed by 15 min ago ... steelwork on 3rd level already :cheers:

You can't say stuff like that without a picture, lol!

What? Is it rising again?

photos and visual confirmation dammit, not supposed to rising much higher until mid Jan.......give it air time team.

Well, it started rising above ground earlier than we'd expected, so...

What what what!!!!??? Seriously?
A month early?
Pictures!!

not sure if these renders have been posted on here before
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/view.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/view2.jpg

Can anyone confirm this? Or is this a December Fools joke? :lol:

Probs just a mistake as the guy is not from britain and may not of seen the site before. If not sorry my bad mate ! Brilliant news !

I thought that as well.

It 'would' seem odd to start now, so close to the Christmas break, to get going and down tools within a fortnight? if not sooner.. and wait til the new year??

clearly i'm gonna have to detour HERE as well to get pics when i'm in town on the 27th.

how annoying ;)

when I drove past it yesterday lunch time, there was a concrete pour going on, but no steel rising.
I think this is a bit confusion, If you look at the frame near were all the welding is going on, then there appears to be 3 floor due to the extra steel bracing.

I was on-site yesterday. There is NO steel going up above the second floor until 19th January at the earliest. Although we would be ready to deliver on the 12th, the site may not be ready - however, things may change...

The steel decking is nearly complete on the 2nd floor ready for steel meshing and later pouring.

It is planned to have 46 lorry loads of deliveries (steel and decking) in the first 11 working days. This would be enough to complete 2 floors. ie 1 floor per week. With the tight space and traffic around Bishopsgate, deliveries must work like clockwork otherwise the whole program is disrupted.

^^
http://www.partypackage.co.uk/ekmps/shops/robinsonl/images/96777.jpg

Thanks for clearing that one up ffinybryn! Eh eh!

Spot on! :lol:

Sorry … never thought level 2 or 3 would make such a big issue :nuts:

1 floor per week sounds good to me. Should shoot up like the Landmark hopefully.

yes...46 floors? so by about this time next year it should top out.

has't it taken 8 years to build this many floors though :|

edit: sorry, 7 years.

Yes but its logarithmic...it accelerates exponentially once the point of approval has been absorbed into the total equation/time :. Approval = Proposal + realisation + agreement + Funding = Construction - Recession + finance = construction/unit cost/productivity( horsepowerXmanpower(+ Polands loss)- H&S requirement) = realisation...simple!

transposing that in a regression matrix, i accept the postitive hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis. with the method of ordinary least squares, i calculate the correlation coefficient to indicate that you are, in fact correct, mark.

sorted :lol:

I used that equation and Heron will be built in 32 years. Although I don't think you factored in the London Weather Constant, and I may not have carried a one, at some point.

I thought logarithmic curves actually tailed off with increased x values, so its exponential not logarithmic :dunno: :lol:

I used that equation and Heron will be built in 32 years. Although I don't think you factored in the London Weather Constant, and I may not have carried a one, at some point.

lol... this could go on forever. :cheers:

..I'm still picking myself off the floor from that scouser picture.....well funny!!

..I'm still picking myself off the floor from that scouser picture.....well funny!!

Me too!

However, according to my calculations Heron Tower was completed 3 months ago. I must have put the decimal point in the wrong place!

Yes but its logarithmic...it accelerates exponentially once the point of approval has been absorbed into the total equation/time :. Approval = Proposal + realisation + agreement + Funding = Construction - Recession + finance = construction/unit cost/productivity( horsepowerXmanpower(+ Polands loss)- H&S requirement) = realisation...simple!


Walking round the city yesterday and its not like london at all...Huge cranes at heron, massive core somewhere near spitialfilds, big new tower at broadgate, plots everywhere from aldgate - west .Whats the equatiuon for spacio temporal distortaion?
BTW if u aint been to mutate britain yet,go for it
Irie

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WOW sooo many deletions?

Yes, because people are incapable of staying on topic.

My bad, next time I'll just post a banana.. always a valid contribution..

ooh, whilst I'm here, heron, heron, heron!!! look at it, its like, there and.. ev. :|

Okay, Will try and act my age now and stop being a tit. I suppose when we know there's a few weeks before
work starts again we're all eager to see it kick up again, especially given the shock when it seemed to appear
within a few days! All in all its probably better it has briefly stalled, as it lets the other towers catch up and
will give us a far more impressive scene (given the circumstance) when they're all simultaneously rising at roughly
the same heights.. might give some faith of progression in the economy.

I walked past yesterday, no visible progress but there were lots of people still over the steel working on it. 2 of the cranes seemed quite busy too.

O bijesus Will they were funny;all that equation stuff?U could have just knocked mine off i wouldnt have minded.

I do feel guilty but I must admit....its all part of the exitement. Dozens of us have been haning around for years never thinking this would actually happen. Well it is happening and right now......its all soooo exiting!

I feel like a little schoolgirl all exited and noisey...but they are so hard to find this time of night ;)


This tower WILL be up and we WILL be argueing over floor counts VERY soon xxx

Apologies for sending folks off on a tangient..........isnt that a mathematical equation?

I can't believe there isn't a webcam for this :cry:

loads of pics from today

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/11.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/12.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/13.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/133.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/14.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/15.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/16.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/17.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/19.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/18.JPG

Terrific shots chest, thanks for the update :)

funny how a few steel bars can bring tears to your eyes ...

Great Pics! Just imagine how much immense weight is going to be held aloft by those F***off beams!

Great shots as every Chest. You really get an idea of how spacious the ground floor foyer area is going to be

it's great seeing the floor plates being laid but looking at the basement pics they seem to be progressing very well which means steelwork rising again next month looks very much on,very exciting i must say

I look at all those people going by, and wonder if they know they are walking past what is going to be, for a short time, London's tallest structure. Exciting stuff.

I never realised before how huge the structure is. When you see it relative to the construction workers/machinery it really takes you back! Amazing. Is this building going to be 100% offices or mixed? If so is there going to be an area open to the public? I couldn't find anything mentioned in the thread.

Great pics chest, worldmayor took the words right out of my mouth :)

I never realised before how huge the structure is. When you see it relative to the construction workers/machinery it really takes you back! Amazing.


Yep. In fact that reminds me, I will have to make another video of the site.



Is this building going to be 100% offices or mixed?


100% offices, possibly some retail at ground floor though.



If so is there going to be an area open to the public? I couldn't find anything mentioned in the thread.

Public restaurant on the top floor. :cheers2:

I look at all those people going by, and wonder if they know they are walking past what is going to be, for a short time, London's tallest structure. Exciting stuff.


HHm It has only just occurred to me. I wonder if Ronson planned for his tower to be the tallest in the country (for a while)? It was increased in height once or twice.

Heron won't get nearly as much attention as the Gherkin did though (I suspect).

Has the floor area (ie. the footprint of this building) been set out allready? Meaning is it going to wider in either direction, adding more steel to broaden it, or is it that the only was is up?

Seeing the huge external cross beams is exciting indeed. I haven't seen any mention of this building in the news anywhere, i'm sure people will be amazed when it just keeps growing and growing, similar to people in E&C with the Strata :cheers:.

The towers foot print is complete, and people do already talk about it, I walk past it everyday, on so many occassions I have heard people talk to each other about it as they walk by, quite often city suits telling there clients whats happening here and at the Pinnacle site

funny how a few steel bars can bring tears to your eyes ...

It was the millenium tower.Then this.We've been waiting 8 pissin years...
You have no idea.
But blubb away bruva.
Even just the cranes being there made me fell dizzy when i saw it.
It was gonna be the tallest when planned.
Somebody, whats the one that already has a core maybe 30 stories high.Near spitalfilds.?Im sure theres athread for it but y'know me bit dim..
Edit;Its this.cheers.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342614&page=14

Estates Gazette

Heron are planning to re-apply for planing permission for Heron Plaza next year with an aim to make at least part of the building a hotel.

Heron have apparently been in negotiations with the Four Seasons group to manage the space.

The magazine also revealed that the search for pre-lets for big Heron was suspended in October.

^^^ yes I wondered what was happening about baby Heron...i thought they were supposed to be going up together?

Well, currently the old building on site is the site office for big Heron, so it might be around for a while...

although it'd be great to see these two rise together, from a photographic point of view Big Heron is best on its own for a while so it can be seen in all its glory from each side. Then, when Baby Heron goes up it will give us something else to watch.

Estates Gazette

Heron are planning to re-apply for planing permission for Heron Plaza next year with an aim to make at least part of the building a hotel.

Heron have apparently been in negotiations with the Four Seasons group to manage the space.

The magazine also revealed that the search for pre-lets for big Heron was suspended in October.

sensible hedging of bets now the City has removed its embargo on hotels. I still maintain the old Drapers Gardens would have been lovely as a Starwood 'W' Hotel, ubiqituous in the US.

Suspension of pre-let search....really? Am sure they're still out in the market tapping up those with requirements, but this will be finished first of the biggies and there's always going to be natural movement of firms as leases expire, buildings become antiquated etc etc. Maybe not so much regarding headcount growth though. Boo.

I too think Drapers was a lost opportunity...and unique too

Heron's first Christmas.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/3141151695_8db626566b_b.jpg

In a few weeks it will start rising again and this time non stop. :happy:

saturday :)

one of the detours i took on my way through london...

i actually had to see it to believe it was being built! ;)

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7125.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7103%20copy.jpg

^ walking out of liverpool street tube station

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7105%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7108%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7110%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7111%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7112%20copy.jpg

^ from saint botolph's churchyard

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7113%20copy.jpg

^ from saint botolph's churchyard

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7114%20copy.jpg

^ from saint botolph's churchyard

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7115%20copy.jpg

^ merry xmas from skanska! :)

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7117%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7118%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7119%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7120%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7122%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7123%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7124%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/27_12_2008%20london/heron%20tower%20construction/IMG_7128%20copy.jpg

^^ Wonderful selection of pictures there man, very much appreciated!

When concrete starts being poured you know it's cracking along!

Btw, does anyone know (sorry if it's already been mentioned) what's going on with that building under cover you can see in some of those shots?

Your camera doesn't have auto-blue-sky mode? :D

Thanks for the update, we appreciate it. :cheers:

Your camera doesn't have auto-blue-sky mode? :D

Thanks for the update, we appreciate it. :cheers:

no it just has perfect-white-sky mode :tongue2:, works best on cloudy days, provided you point it at the sun

Whats happening with that building next door to Heron that is covered in white sheeting? Thanks for the update btw.

saturday :)

one of the detours i took on my way through london...

i actually had to see it to believe it was being built! ;)



^^^^
Thanks for the updates. You've clearly been getting around town quite a bit!!

:)

Man, I remember when this was proposed back in 2001 and all the brouhaha that came along with it. Conservation groups, English Heritage, Royal Parks Agency, the whole shebango of NuLab quangos squealed.

And then Prescott told them where to go in 2002 with the result of the public inquiry annouced!

Zoom forward 6 years (!) and then, finally, the bastard is being built. God it takes a long time to build things in this country.

This should be a great skyscraper though, 794ft to spire, trumping One Canada Square 777ft and forming a trident of towers in the centre of the City from Waterloo Bridge. It should look very smart. I wonder what the night lighting will be? I've seen a mixture of green and purple LEDs with the spire lit white.

Anyway, Nice one Gerald for your perseverence. Here's one on me :cheers:

When does this beast start rising again? Mid january?

^^ yes, with bells on! Our man on site has pretty much confirmed that the steel frame will start to climb early in the New Year. Exciting times. Oh yes, thanks for the update Nick.

Excellent set of photos the Nick :okay:

Heron will be 2009's lifebelt for scaper-freaks ...

In those previous pictures, what is going on with the building next to Heron Tower? Covered in white sheeting?

I dread to think how mad the forum will be when they start back on site.. I can almost imagine a Heron Sub-Forum to compensate for the inactivity in others, :|. I just really hope we see the same pace of construction as we did initially last Autumn.

I guarantee once it starts taking a dominant shape on the skyline, it'll feel like we never waited near on a decade to see it in reality.

Whats happening with that building next door to Heron that is covered in white sheeting? Thanks for the update btw.

It is a horrid 80's Po-Mo office block that sadly is being refurbished rather than hit with a wrecking ball!

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc360/londonfire/Picture134_160.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc360/londonfire/Picture134_161.jpg

They're preparing to make it rise i guess, thanks for the photo

English Heritage must have thought to themselves or been boasting rather that after so long these projects, which they fought tooth and nail to get scrapped, haven't shown themselves, boy are they going to get a shock this year!
And I wonder if those people who walk past this, realize just what is being constructed?

I bet alot of people just think its going to be a standard mid-rise, no one ever seems to stop and actually read the updates posted on the hoardings.

Probably. Obviously they would know its a tower, because it says HERON TOWER in large letters. Skanska should have some images and information on the hoardings.

would the majority of people care? in all honesty.. until it starts reaching a certain height (80m+ say) that people will start to think.. 'oh, thats a biggie'.. otherwise for now, won't they just see yet another building site in London, which aint an uncommon site.

^^^ Exactly..and most people wouldnt even notice a building site anyway...........

Have they concreted over the silver sheeting that cover the floors?

absolutely, people will walk past it and not realise until it really rises, and then continues to rise and continues to at which point people will go "holy shit".

Looking good in blue:


http://personal.rhul.ac.uk/uhaa/037/img_0722.jpg

I wonder how long post completion it takes for EH to consider it a valued part of our Skyline and Heritage, as they did with the Gherkin?

I wasn't aware that English Heritage thought such a thing of 30 St Mary Axe. They think its a precious part of the skyline now?

EH have said that the Gherkin's the worst thing to happen to London... The tallness! The modern-ness! The horror! Too bad everyone else loves it.

At the risk of being distracted off topic and sounding English Heritage-esque, I have to say I am a bit concerned about the renders I've seen of how 30 St Mary Axe will be obscured from Waterloo Bridge (surely one of its finest views) by 'The Pinnacle'. It's so iconic now, its clear sightlines deserve some protection in my opinion. I like the Pinnacle, don't get me wrong, it will be iconic in a different way.
Now, back to topic guys and gals, Heron Tower, Heron Tower!
I can't wait till it's superstructure starts to rise enough to be viewed from Waterloo Bridge and helps link the Bishopsgate tower who's looking ever so lonely right now!

I would say its actually the Leadenhall Building which blocks 30 St Mary Axe more. That's not a bad thing, thats what happens when clusters start being created. Don't start on protecting the view of Swiss RE! Its bad enough people moaning about 1 Park Place blocking One Canada Square.

Anyway, two weeks until this beauty starts her way up!

LOL this again.

Skyscrapers blocking other skyscrapers lol.

EG report that Heron Plaza is being re-configured to accomodate a 5 star hotel

I thought the Corporation of London didnt like the idea of Hotels in the square mile? It would make sense though, 5 star business class hotel in the heart of the British Economy, should breathe more life into the area after working hours too, there are some great looking bars along Bishopsgate.

Regarding the EH thing, I thought EH had given in finally when they realised everybody (almost) loves the gherkin and that it had become an icon of London?

:lol:

A view doesn't stay the same from everywhere, if you dont like what you're looking it, then move and you can look at something else.

Cheers to everyone providing updates :cheers:

[QUOTE=Frankus Maximus;30297802]Looking good in blue:

What is the blue coating - fire proofing?

Looking good in blue:


What is the blue coating - fire proofing?

Thanks for all the photo updates guys, cant wait to see what the photos will reveal in the coming months!

[post removed by ffinybryn]

Incidentally, an anagram of "City Heron Tower" = "Worthy Erection".


:lol:

Thank you for providing all the information and photographs ffinybryn it really is appreciated!

It seems odd that those beams appear to be in the middle of a field.

Do you grow them?

@ffinybryn :okay:

It's almost spooky that our future city is already made, lying out in a field somewhere.

It seems odd that those beams appear to be in the middle of a field.

Do you grow them?

Home grown in Yorkshire, freshly picked and delivered with lerv...

Even storing these frames has been a massive logistical exercise. Fields flattened and hard-core laid for crawler cranes and artic' lorries to run up and down.

Several of the stability frames stacked ready for dispatch.

Four of the wide "megabrace" frames that sit on top of the diagonal brace at the North side of the building.

Steelhenge: Heron Tower in kit form - Self assembly.


^^
I love it - it's like a flat-pack skyscraper!!

:banana:

Home grown in Yorkshire, freshly picked and delivered with lerv...

Even storing these frames has been a massive logistical exercise. Fields flattened and hard-core laid for crawler cranes and artic' lorries to run up and down.

Thank you! This year I will add to my order from Thompson & Morgan and Chiltern seeds: Skyscraper beam seeds! I cant wait to see them germinate and grow. I must admit, I lose a lot to damping off ever since Copper fungicide went titsup! Still I could always try a 46 storey Bonsai. Must be part of the process I guess ;)

thanks for those pictures, great contribution!

^^
I love it - it's like a flat-pack skyscraper!!

:banana:

now you see why they need a trial-run at assembling it!

;)

thanks for the excellent contribution to the forum, ffinybryn! :cheers:

ffinybryn :cheers:

I can't see the photos? Has ffinybryn removed them?

Yes, for reasons that are not known. :)

Yes, for reasons that are not known.

I have been asked to remove the pics on confidentiality grounds and have obliged. My apologies to all.

Will just have to wait a bit longer...

:ohno:

Matter closed.

not to worry, ffinybryn..last thing we'd want is you to get in trouble just for the sake of us having a sneak peak.. in a few weeks we'll see it all anyway and hopefully looking a bit more exciting as its assembled in place.. lol. I can't wait!

Not to worry, I had a good look before you took them down ;)

They arent being made at Thircon are they?

Omg I am so excited about this rising in just a matter of DAYS now! I wish I could have seen these photos and seen what the fuss is about =[

I have been asked to remove the pics on confidentiality grounds and have obliged. My apologies to all.

Will just have to wait a bit longer...

:ohno:

Matter closed.

No problem..and no harm done...I hope I am not being patronising when I say that your job and family come first.....every time. Always clear it first and pass the buck ;)

the steel support structure which will hold the construction lifts is now being built

jesus christ they were only a few pics of some steel beams / columns in a field - that could be anywhere for all we know :lol: whilst they were quite interesting to see, I cant see how anyone would give a toss about them being posted on the net. After all pictures of the same beams will be posted in a few weeks once they have been installed on site. Some people need to lighten up a bit (not aimed at you ffinbryn) :ohno:

jesus christ they were only a few pics of some steel beams / columns in a field - that could be anywhere for all we know :lol: whilst they were quite interesting to see, I cant see how anyone would give a toss about them being posted on the net. After all pictures of the same beams will be posted in a few weeks once they have been installed on site. Some people need to lighten up a bit (not aimed at you ffinbryn) :ohno:

That's one of those statements like 'football's only a game'.

I saw the photos before they had to be removed, and recognised the significance of their mere existance. You don't know how good it is to see this tower on the way, it's like a cool glass of lager in the middle of a parched desert. I'll be in Bishopsgate on Monday so will try to get photos of progress if I get a chance.

That's one of those statements like 'football's only a game'.

:?

I saw the photos before they had to be removed, and recognised the significance of their mere existance. You don't know how good it is to see this tower on the way, it's like a cool glass of lager in the middle of a parched desert. I'll be in Bishopsgate on Monday so will try to get photos of progress if I get a chance

ooohh please explain this "significance" as you are clearly an expert :lol:

That's one of those statements like 'football's only a game'.

It is. Some people just take it far too seriously:lol:

Everyone on this thread is talkin about having seen the photos but now they are gone and I'm very curious to know what they were.

What were the photos all about because I'm confused and excited as to what they were.:)

Thanks

Good news about the steel support structure which will hold the construction lifts being constructed. *pinches self*
This is happening!

Everyone on this thread is talkin about having seen the photos but now they are gone and I'm very curious to know what they were.

What were the photos all about because I'm confused and excited as to what they were.:)

Thanks

Basically, the tower all laid out in a field and ready to be taken to be assembled:)

can't see what the fuss is about re the photos of beams in a field ... they were the same as the beams on-site weren't they? so ... :sleepy:

Edit: oops. If your post is in regards to the removal of the photos, then I'd say if it was taken on a private site then it could be more to do with where the photos were taken, not what they showed?

FFSake! Leave the guy alone he has been told by his superiors to remove them and thats it for now...Leave it and change the subject!!!!

So how many floor will go up in January?

I'd say about 4 if it's a floor a week. Which means it'll take until december to reach level 50.

Wow it will be wont it! By march is tay start to appear above the rooftops :)

I'd say about 4 if it's a floor a week. Which means it'll take until december to reach level 50.

level 50?
I thought it only had 47 or am I missing plant floors

Walking past yesterday, you can see that the basement dig has started, and it looks like the concrete on the ground floor is done.
Can't work out when they did the concrete pour as it needed to be a continous pour and no one noticed it.

...at night??

Thanks for all the updates by the way, on this and other projects.

level 50?
I thought it only had 47 or am I missing plant floors

38 - 40 - 47 - 50 floors! London these days, whats the issue with a few floors here or there? ;)

^^:lol:

thanks for the updates.....shame i missed the frame photo with the whole thing laid out, but good to know its coming.

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/5330/img2370vg2.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8918/img2371xm7.jpg

guts of the beast but not vertical elevation just yet.....bring it on:

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5200/img2372pq2.jpg

I take it there is a gap in the floor plate for the crane?

I take it there is a gap in the floor plate for the crane?

doubt it, think its quite a slim tower and the three cranes that surround the site should have the reach required to erect it.

I take it there is a gap in the floor plate for the crane?

This will be for the lifts. There are loads of them outside of the main frame, whilst some of the passenger lifts will be external between the cantilevered arms.

Hope I've not given away too much - A building with mechanical platforms for the automated vertical transport of goods and passengers...whatever next?

Hope I've not given away too much - A building with mechanical platforms for the automated vertical transport of goods and passengers...whatever next?

Be careful, if that sort of confidential information gets out, everyone will be installing these so-called "lifts"...

;)

It looks all neat and tidy at the moment, Its great to know that ffinybryn is here to keep us up to date with the latest developments.

Thanks Jimbo for the pics.

still no cladding.....

:|

still no cladding.....

lol ehmmmm yeah, go to bed and sleep a few months. Maybe there is some cladding then.

TC1,2 & 3 rise with the building. Bit hopeful with seeing cladding so soon.

Steelwork starts rising again next week

still no cladding.....

I lol'd.

Maybe we will see some cladding by April time?
Bring on next week!!