Much better than many other towers being proposed in London
Now they just need to knock down that ugly bastard nearby which I think is Guys Hospital built in the bad old 70's.

They're planning on re-cladding it, which will be nice. It's quite the eyesore at the moment.

http://www.spacy.me/forum/shard2.gif

very cool time lapse. hope we see more in the future

Should do, from weds or thurs the pumps will be going 24/7 and the core will be rising at about 3m a day for the next 3wks...apparently

great tower progress

hello is people !!!
WHat is a towers crane? and what their descriptions

I cant work out this core... it looks like its actually rising out of the ground as the various items sat on top don't seem to be moving.

I cant work out this core... it looks like its actually rising out of the ground as the various items sat on top don't seem to be moving.

You have to remember that what looks like the ground there is actually a concrete slab supported by columns beneath, they've already constructed some of the basement levels before they started the core.

what appears above the slipform is the equipment/material they are using i imagine to help create the core hence why it remains there, the patternation of brown lines are the gaps where the rebar is placed before the concrete is formed hence why the brown lines shall always appear in the same place (well for the next couple of weeks anyway)

Today

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/92956-2/20100120_0022.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/92932-2/20100120_0037.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/92926-2/20100120_0039.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/92950-2/20100120_0026.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/92938-2/20100120_0030.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/92914-2/20100120_0041.jpg

by cybertect.

hello is people !!!
WHat is a towers crane? and what their descriptions

Hi, I assume this is a serious post?

I'm having trouble to understand what you're saying. I'll try to explain. A tower crane is a crane that is designed to construct skyscrapers/towers. Maybe it's better for you to look it up on a dictionary or google translator because I'm pretty sure you know what it means in your language. If you have no clue what a construction crane is you might be on the wrong forum.

Maybe he wants to know some crane details. He is knowledgeable enough in construction sphere.

I happened to be passing on my lunch time walk with my camera and got a few shots today.



The St Thomas Street side of the slipform rig emerging from the basement. You can see the Mace branding.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93094-2/20100121_0117.jpg


Pumping concrete

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93088-2/20100121_0119.jpg



New steel on the north west side of the site

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93112-2/20100121_0105.jpg



I was there while a section of one of the white columns being dropped into place on the north west side of the site - the pics work nicely in b/w, I thought.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93130-2/20100121_0097.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93124-2/20100121_0100.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93118-2/20100121_0102.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93106-2/20100121_0106.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93100-2/20100121_0115.jpg

http://www.spacy.me/forum/Shard-gif.gif

by Atmosphere.

fantastic progress ..cheers for London :cheers:

ha! I had no idea they actually started working on this one!

It's so nice to finally see the core beginning to rise. Looking good here London! :cheers:

Thought I'd grab a few pics with my phone on my way to work this morning.

While it leaves a lot to be desired in other departments, it does have one advantage over my DSLR in that it's small enough to get a shot through the gap round the edges of the plastic sheet on the bridge. :)

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93258-2/DSC00314.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93246-2/DSC00317.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93252-2/DSC00319.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93240-2/DSC00320.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93124-2/20100121_0100.jpg

I can't stop thinking about a gigantic USB port when I look at this. :D

http://i49.tinypic.com/4zt2ti.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/5l2usl.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/kafypv.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/2n9dfzl.jpg

OK, so I couldn't resist stopping to have a look on my way home this evening and as I had my 50mm and fisheye lenses with me... (can you get counselling for this kind of thing?)

I cranked up the ISO to 1600 and had a go at some hand-held after-dark pics. There was a bit of 'spray and pray' involved when I stuck the camera through a gap in the screens and hoped desparately that I didn't drop it!


http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93324-2/201001_0005.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93306-2/201001_0014.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93300-2/201001_0015.jpg

[partially de-fished this one]

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93276-2/201001_0067.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93282-2/201001_0065.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93270-2/201001_0068.jpg

(can you get counselling for this kind of thing?)

Maybe, but you'll have to look elsewhere because i'm sure everybody here is only too happy for you to keep posting these photos! Cheers! :cheers:

2.5 days of progress :cheers:

http://www.spacy.me/forum/Shardv2.gif

It is a good design.

Atmosphere, love the way we are actually seeing the 'Shard' rising, great timelapse.

^^ Wow, great job indeed! Keep that timelapse up please, it would be great to see the whole building rise! :cheers:

This will probably end up being one of the most beautiful pyramid-shaped towers in the world, along with San Fransisco's transamerica building. There's not that many of them in that style come to think of it.

It grows like it's the London Sky Tree.

It grows like it's the London Sky Tree.

I tought the same!

This will probably end up being one of the most beautiful pyramid-shaped towers in the world, along with San Fransisco's transamerica building. There's not that many of them in that style come to think of it.
Agreed! :)

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss153/mikestanton/DSC00384.jpg

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss153/mikestanton/DSC00381.jpg

by Mikey.

Very nice tower... congrats London, nice city.

its good now that london is going into the building style of class. Cant wait till its done

How is the weather next week? I heard that it's going below zero. Does that affect the progress of the core?

the progress is remarkable .. love it :)

the core going up at a nice pace.

Great progress and good photos. I noticed two Leica TC1100 total stations attached to the building wall. I know that these are used for survey works on the site. My question is - are these stay always there 24 hours? Maybe someone can take a close shot of them? I made also red circles around them.
Thanks!
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8824/leica001.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8349/leica002.jpg

I only wished the WTC would go up this fast..

it sure is an impressive pace...

sweet.

-

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93602-2/201001_0002.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93590-2/201001_0005_001.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93584-2/201001_0010.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93578-2/201001_0012_001.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93572-2/201001_0014_001.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93554-2/201001_0021.jpg

by cybertect.

OMG, such fast progress!! How are they doing this !

^^for one, I was reading in popular science that the building is moving upwards while simultaneously the basement is being dug, saving almost a year on construction time

uau it's beatiful building...

can't wait for this to be done...

but, i guess i'll have to!!!!!

What a nice building right over there! And it's fast construction is really unique. It looks like a monolith though but its great!

http://i46.tinypic.com/14sldt.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/2lasxzr.jpg

by SE9.

Getting up there! :)

looks like they took a note from the wtc and put enormous columns at the base and then they gradually go down to normal size a few stories up.

Great to see it rising :)

Since the start of the rising core until this morning.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6109/upto27jansml.gif (http://img145.imageshack.us/i/upto27jansml.gif/)

originally posted by mrtcas.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/27Jan10017.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/27Jan10012.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/27Jan10020.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/27Jan10014.jpg

by Nihil Dicit.

The progress is just incredible!

^^ Cool pics! Love this tower. :cheers:

Honestly this is one of the best designs i've ever seen on a building. It's pretty good

^^for one, I was reading in popular science that the building is moving upwards while simultaneously the basement is being dug, saving almost a year on construction time

Yeah, I read that too. Supposedly it is called the top down method, and it looks like other buildings will soon be using the same process. I heard that Pingan IFC, Samsung Parc 1, and the Abenobashi Terminal Building Tower, are applying this, but The Shard is the first.:)

Yeah, I read that too. Supposedly it is called the top down method, and it looks like other buildings will soon be using the same process. I heard that Pingan IFC, Samsung Parc 1, and the Abenobashi Terminal Building Tower, are applying this, but The Shard is the first.:)
Heron Tower was the first afaik.

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3269.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3271.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3273.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3275.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3276.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3278.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3279.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3272.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/IMG_3268.jpg

by Light Parade.

Yeah, I read that too. Supposedly it is called the top down method, and it looks like other buildings will soon be using the same process. I heard that Pingan IFC, Samsung Parc 1, and the Abenobashi Terminal Building Tower, are applying this, but The Shard is the first.:)

Heron Tower was the first afaik.

...

http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/bown_article_image/articles/shardlondonbridge.jpg
Renzo Piano’s 72-story glass tower in London, expected to be the tallest building in Western Europe when it opens in 2012, employs a bold new method that could speed construction of tomorrow’s skyscrapers: Build the tower and dig the basement at the same time. A custom deep-diving rig put the tower’s structural columns into the ground before excavation took place, so one construction crew can dig the basement—which otherwise puts everything else on hold—while another installs elevators, staircases and mechanical fixtures on top of the columns. Engineer Bob Gordon of the Mace Group estimates that the technique will save seven months of construction time.
shardlondonbridge.com


it kinda makes it sound like the shard was first, but still london is first to do it either way.

I had my 15mm Fisheye and 70-200 lenses with me at lunch time, so it's super-wide or telephoto today and nowt in between.


St Thomas Street

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94076-2/201001_0040.jpg


New steel adjacent to Joiner Street from St Thomas Street

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94070-2/201001_0039.jpg


Core Rising

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94094-2/201001_0058.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94106-2/201001_0073.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94112-2/201001_0074.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94148-2/201001_0103.jpg



With the rising steel (and soon concrete) we now have some decent views from London Bridge Street

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94154-2/201001_0112.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94130-2/201001_0090.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94136-2/201001_0093.jpg

As usual, there are a few other photos I've not posted here in my Shard Gallery (http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/v/architecture/london/shard)

This is getting real now...:drool:.

Look at the size of the steel bars! :eek:

Thanks cybertect.

^^Wow, great pictures! Nice progress:cheers:

This tower is really the opposite of the WTC1 in terms of construction speed. Unbelievable how fast the core is going up.

Such an amazing project :cheers:

This tower is really the opposite of the WTC1 in terms of construction speed. Unbelievable how fast the core is going up.

yeah, well that's what happens when you have the olympics coming up

I can't believe the core is that high already. Awesome! Thanks for all the photos everyone.

From London forum.

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss153/mikestanton/corecam290110.jpg

I will post one shot a day in the morning... if no one else has done so...(you know you want to!)
top now level with the cam..... no more view of the top!
Rob's photos as ever knock all others into a cocked hat.

Who else spotted our comforter and sometime taunter, ShardCam 1, in this pic?

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/lightparade1960/Shardcam.jpg

Amazing pics!!! The progress is extremely fast :nuts: :nuts: :nuts:.

:banana: :banana: :banana:


:) :cheers:

the rate of the core is great.

The core looks like blocks, but that can't be. Is it just the pattern from the forms we are seeing?

...


it kinda makes it sound like the shard was first, but still london is first to do it either way.

Oh, okay. Thanks for the information. I didn't know Heron Tower did the top-down method. :okay:

The core looks like blocks, but that can't be. Is it just the pattern from the forms we are seeing?

The boxes are where there will be doorways. The put temporary formwork in them which will eventually be removed.

I took all the webcam shots that I could find. The first one is from 9 October.

eXVFE8mH1pI

^^Your timelapses are always cool Atmosphere. ;)

This morning:

http://i46.tinypic.com/vvtxy.jpg

Correct me if I'm wrong but this thing seems to grow by about 1 floor each 2 days!:eek:

I think the steel bars are just for the first floor:nuts:.

But the core rises approximately by 3 metres a day.

http://www.spacy.me/forum/shardsmall.gif

by Atmosphere.

A few snaps with the 17-40 today. For reasons of a little technical experiment I was conducting, they're all black and white.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94394-2/201002_0041.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94388-2/201002_0042.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94382-2/201002_0043.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94370-2/201002_0046.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94346-2/201002_0053.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94364-2/201002_0047.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94340-2/201002_0056.jpg

oh, my god,
its growing up very fast

Something's really appening here. Let's race Freedom Tower in NY.

Those black and white photos turned out really good, cybertect. Nice contrast.

http://i45.tinypic.com/e9hued.jpg

This is really getting exciting now.

http://i50.tinypic.com/npkpd3.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/2411s36.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/25i6gz5.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/311p2zl.jpg

by SE9.

wow :eek2: the core is going up so fast!

Ohhh, this would beee sooo expensive! Especially to live in.

Amazing progress! I can't believe how much the core has grown over such a short time!

By Mrtcas.


http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae158/mrtcas/Jan12-Feb03Progress.gif

It is kinda like the Jetsons.

Great timeline! This is really fast now!

Does anyone remember what page the link to the full construction timetable with animations is on please? I just don't fancy looking through a hundred-odd pages. I would like to see if it is on schedule or not

^^The construction is about 2 months behind the animation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WYKyCrK9tM

WOW!! Didnt realised this had got to this stage so quickly.

Certainly will have to go and have a look next time i'm in London town.

The core is starting to look fairly substantial in this view:


http://i50.tinypic.com/10dfar7.jpg

Finally after years of planning worries, money problems and Boris Johnson, London first supertall has well and truly broken ground...this is gonna look great once that core starts rising higher.

^^The construction is about 2 months behind the animation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WYKyCrK9tM

From reading the London thread that animation is an old one and they've changed the construction process since then. They're more or less on course apparently

I just thank god Borris Johnson wasn't around when this thing went through planning! Good old Livingstone, he sat next to me on the tube last night!

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/6742/sg3dvl1.jpg

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3301/wtbynr1.jpg

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5038/nwg0bc1.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2465/10rll371.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/3104/14wcdok1.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8644/jjs4u81.jpg

by ben.hills83.

Finally popping out from above :cheers2:.

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010719.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010723.JPG

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010698.JPG

by chest.

The progress on this is amazing :cheers:

An update of Strata as a free bonus.

this thing is flying with speed of sound holy crap :)

Today:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/06Feb10025.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/06Feb10018.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/06Feb10013.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/06Feb10009.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/06Feb10005.jpg

by Nihil Dicit.

this thing is flying with speed of sound holy crap :)

Yes indeed !!! This bluddy fast... really really fast.

I have never seen such fast progress in my life :) :cheers:!

^^ Heron Tower aalso went up like crazy. I like this quick construction with steel. :)

I'm amazed how quick this one is going up!

It'll be a sight to see at the Olympics

wow :shocked: Already there? It´s so damn fast :nuts:

From the hospital grounds ...

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv339/BorderBoy3/shard1-2.jpg

How many floors?

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv339/BorderBoy3/456.jpg

They already pouring floor 7 ! :nuts:

very impressed with the speed the core is rising ,but in the last pic the joints of the white steel only have small joining plates holding them together, am i right to be concerned ?

^^

That should answer your concerns:

(...)
I was there while a section of one of the white columns being dropped into place on the north west side of the site - the pics work nicely in b/w, I thought.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93130-2/20100121_0097.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93124-2/20100121_0100.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93118-2/20100121_0102.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93106-2/20100121_0106.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/93100-2/20100121_0115.jpg

Fanbloodytastic i look forward to seeing this thing rise above the rest!!!!!!!

cheers stefr for putting me right.

This morning.

http://i47.tinypic.com/2dvizom.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/2w598d2.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/5n3nf6.jpg

Today:

http://i50.tinypic.com/ou9rmv.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/259il2r.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/2qt8eox.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/2mmy9t4.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/2qk1ms0.jpg

by SE9.

This morning.



http://i48.tinypic.com/2w598d2.jpg



I had no idea the footprint of this building was so small! Wow it's going to be so tall and thin!

Is the steel going to be attached to the core?

this thing is flying with speed of sound holy crap :)
If only - the Shard would've reached its full height in less than a second. ;)

Wow, now this is very impressive! Can't believe how fast the core has shot up! Well done! :cheers:

nice pics :okay:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/4344669549_11a07df721_o.jpg

Good diagram! ;)

Indeed, nice diagram

A small correction re Tower 42 - you are of course correct in that it has more than 42 levels, but I think you will find it has 49 levels above ground, not 47.

From my recollection when I worked there for NatWest in the 1980s, the configuration is:

Ground floor
Mezzanine
Podium
P1 (service level in the core, access by stairwells)
P2 (service level in the core, access by stairwells)
42 x numbered cantilevered levels, including 3 mechanical levels
2 x mechanical levels at the top

http://i47.tinypic.com/34hcbxd.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/33axcif.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/x1j7nb.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/nlpegx.jpg

by SE9.

I'm so stoked for London and this tower, this will be a true landmark for this great city, (IMO, allready an icon) and it's almost exactly the same height as our own US Bank tower, (in the great city I live in....!!!)

Have the pouring operations on the core stopped to let the steel catch up...? all you structural guys pay attention, this should prove to be an interesting one to watch..!!!!

Have not been to London since 1983, but it's going to great to see this on the skyline whenever i do get back there...!

I was in LA last year and knew the US Bank tower was the same height...and I was thankful to see that that is indeed...pretty tall.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/4344669549_11a07df721_o.jpg

Better on this page even.

Nicely coming along! :cheers:

Again the question: Will the steel outer structure be connected to the inner concrete core?

I ask because it sure would be a cool design feature to be able to look up or down the center of the building.

Again the question: Will the steel outer structure be connected to the inner concrete core?

I ask because it sure would be a cool design feature to be able to look up or down the center of the building.

It will of course be connected yes. That said, the core doesn't need to wait for it as someone else suggested a couple of posts back.

It might be cool to have a 300m high really small atrium... until a fire. Pointy chimney anyone? :)

^^I think they're waiting for the concrete to cure a bit more since it has gone up so fast. Then they will attach the steel structure to the core.

It will of course be connected yes. That said, the core doesn't need to wait for it as someone else suggested a couple of posts back.

It might be cool to have a 300m high really small atrium... until a fire. Pointy chimney anyone? :)

People could rapel down the core to escape!

Seriously, the core does not show any signs of attachment points (so far) Normally it would be easier to have the bolts or brackets encased in the concrete, rather than drill into it to attach the steel. Then again, that would probably slow down the amazing progress we see.

People could rapel down the core to escape!

Seriously, the core does not show any signs of attachment points (so far) Normally it would be easier to have the bolts or brackets encased in the concrete, rather than drill into it to attach the steel. Then again, that would probably slow down the amazing progress we see.

Look very carefully in the last photo in on this page, you can see a couple of rows of fin plates. (little black dots), these are the new steel attachment plates.
Also steel has already started to be attached the the core on the north side (station side).
Floor plates have also been delivered and laid out on the steel ready for flooring.
The next 2-3 weeks should see some big changes. Once the steel has been connected to the core and the floor laid and poured all the way around level 5 then progress will begin on the steel work at a rate of 1.5 floors a week. This tower will be up in a blink of an eye.

From this evening:

http://i48.tinypic.com/6j2ixw.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ex2fdx.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/11ht4ir.jpg

by SE9.

Good to see it built, but.... the way they've put that Shard sign on top of the core makes me laugh :hilarious

I was in LA last year and knew the US Bank tower was the same height...and I was thankful to see that that is indeed...pretty tall.

The tower you are talking about is actually 319m. So slightly taller ;)

310m according to emporis/wikipedia and on the skyscraper page diagram :P

For someone standing right next to the building, will the sloping face make it seem even more taller or less? I can't seem to visualise it in my head.

Having stood next to the Transamerica Pyramid...I dont think it makes a difference...but it didn't make it appear any taller.

About time London got a supertall! And a gorgeous one at that. :3

Once the steel has been connected to the core and the floor laid and poured all the way around level 5 then progress will begin on the steel work at a rate of 1.5 floors a week. This tower will be up in a blink of an eye.

Looks like it will be tallest in Europe upon completion after all.

For someone standing right next to the building, will the sloping face make it seem even more taller or less? I can't seem to visualise it in my head.

In theory should look taller...:)

Good to see it built, but.... the way they've put that Shard sign on top of the core makes me laugh :hilarious

Why would it make you laugh? If you've got it, flaunt it ;)

Again the question: Will the steel outer structure be connected to the inner concrete core?

I ask because it sure would be a cool design feature to be able to look up or down the center of the building.

:ohno:The whole point of having a concrete core is to act like a spine that braces the steel stucture into a solid unit. Its the normal method of construction for supertalls this side of the Atlantic. Although the States are now using this method more due to its greater strength.

It is possible to see why the core stopped for a day or so earlier in the week. It stepped in all around meaning the slipform had to be adjusted.

http://www.cranesetc.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/shard120210a.jpg

Interesting 'hanging' steelwork.

http://www.cranesetc.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/shard120210b.jpg

Grr. Busy week at work meant I've not got to the site with my camera (well, I did on Tuesday only to discover I was out of battery!) :(

Anyhow, I did grab these two on my way to the station this evening...

A small milestone - the core is now visible from the other side of Tooley Street on the walk through More London down from the GLA building

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94802-2/20100212_0401.jpg

and a little seen hoarding inside the station on platform 13

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/94796-2/20100212_0413.jpg

Great pics everyone! :bow:

Good to see it progressing :cheers2:.

It has grown :cheers:.

http://i46.tinypic.com/257lzcn.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/1tq90g.jpg

She's growing! :cheers:

http://i50.tinypic.com/w0jse0.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/vpf9c7.jpg

by SE9.

theres no stopping it now

I hope for a cleaning in the tower next to this one :ohno:

That Tower is Guys hospital.. and recently a Reclad has been proposed. I will find the link and post it for you.

He's grow with speed!

just been up to see it....crane work going on and some welding of the brackets... not much else.

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030051.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030060.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030055.jpg

At site..

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030147.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/Panorama1-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030151.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030170-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030175-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030172-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030192-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030191-1.jpg

http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n464/freddycoasterman/P1030193-1.jpg

by Freddy.c.

Pouring concrete on floor 10 or 11 !


Now thats what i call progress.

Strange to see the nickname SHARD, first coined on this forum, proudly on display!

very beautiful tower rising from a very ugly part of town? are they going to beautify the are at ground level?

Strange to see the nickname SHARD, first coined on this forum, proudly on display!

I think it was actually coined by English Heritage in an attempt to criticise the tower.

As for beautifying the area at the base of the tower; the tower next door, Guy's Hospital, is scheduled for a re-clad, the nearby station is to be totally refurbished and a replacement of another nearby tower is scheduled too :)

I think EH called it a, 'shard of glass through the heart of london'

I think it was actually coined by English Heritage in an attempt to criticise the tower.

That's correct, this is from Skyscraper News:

"The nickname, the "Shard of Glass", was originally coined by English Heritage who tried to use it as an insult suggesting it was stabbing the heart of historic London. Ironically it has stuck and is now used by the developer in marketing."

In regards to regenerating the area, the Shard will hopefully be a catalyst and the developer has more plans for the immediate vicinity, such as a smaller office building and a new concourse, which can be seen in the video below about 20 seconds in.

REj9uL_NOjo&feature=related

The developer is also planning 3 residential towers by Herzog and De Meuron down the road of 106m, 210m and 253m, though renders haven't been released yet.

That Tower is Guys hospital.. and recently a Reclad has been proposed. I will find the link and post it for you.

Yes and Guy's is the tallest hospital building in the World.

I was standing on Platform 6 at London Bridge yesterday. I looked up briefly and the word SHARD was right there in front of me in huge letters, looming over the rest of the station. It's going to be spectacular getting off the train in a couple of years.

Right, I finally got some time today to pop down to the site at lunch time, so it's a bit of a bumper update with 40-odd pics.

I'll not post them all here, but you can see the rest (and all of them a bit bigger) in my ShardGallery (http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/v/architecture/london/shard/)

Here's a few picks of the pics.

First up, a little visual trail up from Guy's courtyard on St Thomas Street, round the corner onto Great Maze Pond and up the pedestrian bridge staircase over the street.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4361565423_593acf4d9c_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4361565689_1c9d38194c_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4361565895_5ce93f894d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4361566047_5b38a5c587_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4361566181_a733a44203_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4361610597_c83b1a4048_o.jpg


Concrete delivery at Gate #2 (possibly my favourite photo of the day)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4362305984_9873ab4064_o.jpg


Steel fixer at work on Joiner Street side of the core. You can see some of the frame on this side is now bolted to the core.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4362307348_bf689662b7_o.jpg


Goings on from London Bridge Street

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4362307650_516d192e73_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4361567193_75fe838db6_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4361566993_b297462e22_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4361566621_11ae8b51ee_o.jpg


A closer look at the same fixing I noted above

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4362308234_c292448409_o.jpg


Steel on the station side of the site

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4361567545_f8a752b01b_o.jpg



Peeking over the top of the railway from the arcade on the north side of Duke Street Hill.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4362308662_c65e452543_o.jpg

edit: seem to be having trouble with my server this morning, so I've re-hosted the photos at Flickr.

The fifth and ninth pic :eek2:

http://i47.tinypic.com/257lglu.jpg

Some really interesting pics there Cybertect, thanks :okay:

spotted these on the eastern side of the core yesterday

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4362305638_84e8245612_o.jpg

looks like they're being laid out - we have some floors in the steel framework :D

http://www.siteeyelive.com/monitor/shard/camputer64.jpg

This is so cooooooooool!

wow ...

Can someone tell me what technology are they using? I see that the concrete is growing and that black frame is moving all the time up. Is there a film or something what is explaning this? I would be thankful :)

Great progress and nice pics!

this will give you a fairly good idea

http://www.slipform-int.com/products/animations.htm

this will give you a fairly good idea

http://www.slipform-int.com/products/animations.htm

Wow nice animation! Thank you!
Only thing. How do they pull that structure higher, so they can build steel holder things under it after they filled the concrete? I guess cranes have nothing to do with it.

very beautiful tower rising from a very ugly part of town? are they going to beautify the are at ground level?

It may not be the 'prettiest' part of town, but the whole london bridge area is one of my fav parts of london for just that reason. It's gritty, yet touristy, yet local, yet very modern with areas like 'more london' just down the road. It's such a gem of an area. I love the shard and i'm sure it'll only do great things for the area, though thinking ahead to future developments I do hope that london bridge will always retain that eclectic feel to it

simply fantastic! when it gonna be ready?

Wow nice animation! Thank you!
Only thing. How do they pull that structure higher, so they can build steel holder things under it after they filled the concrete? I guess cranes have nothing to do with it.

The scaffolding doesn't need crane to climb up as the core rise, when the concrete is solid the bottom part of the scaffolding will be fixed to the core, and the upper part is joined to the bottom with some pistons, so it can rise.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4364844763_52fda51f92_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4365589380_2b3c5cfc8a_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/4364844051_2fec8f05ab.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4365587006_024e4327ba_b.jpg

by nauticat.

I may be being incredibly thick here but I assume the workers get to the top of the core on some contraption inside the core or are they pulled up in cages by the TC's?

wow!

I may be being incredibly thick here but I assume the workers get to the top of the core on some contraption inside the core or are they pulled up in cages by the TC's?

There's a dedicated access lift in place on the outside of the core on the station side of the site (the bright red-painted tubes you can see in my pics above)

Popped down at lunch time as the weather was so nice. A couple of shots of the new flooring in place on the Eastern side of the core.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95701-2/20100217_0059.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95695-2/20100217_0047.jpg

I'll probably have some more pics up later this evening.

I'm assuming all the holes in the beams will be visible in the finished structure? As well as the floor/ceiling?

I cant believe how fast that thing is growing, you takeyour eye off it for a few days and suddenly the concrete core is 10 storeys high.:banana:

Today:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/17Feb10022.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/17Feb10002.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/17Feb10001.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/17Feb10010.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/17Feb10013.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/17Feb10018.jpg

by Nihil Dicit.

As promised, some more from this lunchtime...


peek-a-boo on St Thomas Street at the junction with Bermondsey Street

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95707-2/20100217_0021.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95725-2/20100217_0038-Edit.jpg


Access staircase to the new floor on the eastern side of the core, now draped with blue netting

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95731-2/20100217_0040.jpg



a couple more images of the aforementioned floor

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95773-2/20100217_0054.jpg

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95761-2/20100217_0045.jpg




I didn't remember all this extra steel at the eastern end of the framework before

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95749-2/20100217_0043.jpg


a bit of context

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95785-2/20100217_0058.jpg


Core fixing of steel has made it to the southwest corner

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95809-2/20100217_0063.jpg



The steel on the western side (Joiner Stret) is getting pretty complex

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95797-2/20100217_0061.jpg


more awaiting being fixed

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95863-2/20100217_0081.jpg


and these are the guys that are doing it

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95869-2/20100217_0084.jpg



The access lift to the slipform rig, on the north (station) side of the site

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95875-2/20100217_0085.jpg


and a few that I just liked the photos... :)


Duke Street Hill - the rig is creeping above the station roof

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95905-2/20100217_0115.jpg


The Friends of Guy's Hospital noticeboard at the top of the staircase leading to the pedestrian bridge

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95839-2/20100217_0072.jpg


Tower crane + Guy's Hospital: there was some nice light around about half one.

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/95893-2/20100217_0096.jpg

I'm assuming all the holes in the beams will be visible in the finished structure? As well as the floor/ceiling?

No. below the beams they will fix the false ceiling with all the lights and air conditioning systems.

Amazing pics as usual cyber ;). The Shard climbing to the sky.

Thanks Cybertect. I see it now. Unobservant before.

Is the footbridge the one that has been there for years? Just trying to get my bearings.

the footbridge the one that has been there for years? Just trying to get my bearings.

Yep. Though they re-aligned it a bit with a new support in Joiner Street (the lower exit, from the Underground station) when the old PWC building was knocked down. It used to cross the road at more of a diagonal than it does now.

It's cool it already started!!!! it's gonna change London skyline

so fast!! 1 floor in 2 days

so fast!! 1 floor in 2 days


That's dedication for you.

Plus, something that tall is a real pressure-point for construction workers. The longer they wait, the harder it will become.

It's unreal how fast this has shot out of the ground!

this is the building that I've been waiting for for the past few years to be erected. After this I'm ready to die

Damn, this bastard really is gaining speed. Can't wait to see it in person once it's complete.

starting to be visible from ground level around London

http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010865.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010850.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010836.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/SHARDHIGH2.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/SHARDHIGH3.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010822.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/P1010823.JPG

Your pics are wondeful, as usual! :chest:

The core is massive!

It will probably slow down a bit now since they have to install some more big steel pieces...

4 floors per week, right? just incredible:nuts:

This is rising quicker then Ron Jeremys tinker.

4 floors per week, right? just incredible:nuts:

only the core.... it is just an extrusion, is not very complex to do.... steel is at same level.

It will probably slow down a bit now since they have to install some more big steel pieces...

MMM, maybe but probably not. The core doesn't have to wait for the steel. The only reason why the steel seems to have slowed down at the moment is that a lot of the lower steel had to wait for the slip rig to clear the initial columns, they've had lots to do in last week or two in terms of tieing the first lot of steel in and hanging some of the lower floor structure. It'll soon start climbing steadily after the core never fear.

only the core.... it is just an extrusion, is not very complex to do.... steel is at same level.

i have never seen a core rising at the pace of 4 floors/week before, thats impressive enough! :)

Steel fixer at work on Joiner Street side of the core. You can see some of the frame on this side is now bolted to the core.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4362307348_bf689662b7_o.jpg




Sorry to tell you he`s not a steel fixer but a steel erector,there`s a big difference. Ever worked on site?

Sorry to tell you he`s not a steel fixer but a steel erector,there`s a big difference. Ever worked on site?

I haven't been at work on a building site for 20 years, I'm afraid.

Thanks for the terminology tip, though.

Years since i worked on site too ,funnily enough that was a slipform job.
BTW brilliant photos , please keep them coming , it`s fantastic to watch it progress. Best regards.

Fixer/erector, I bet the man in the photo doesn't even know what he is.



The big white columns on the shard...will they continue all the way up or are they just for the base?

Fixer/erector, I bet the man in the photo doesn't even know what he is.



The big white columns on the shard...will they continue all the way up or are they just for the base?

I would think he does know,Steel erector does as per photo, erects steelwork, steel fixer works with reinforcing bars to reinforce the concrete.You will find the fixers working on the slipform staging, the steel erectors will probably only have just started their work.

Re: the white columns, they look permanent but have no idea how far up the project they continue.

Fixer/erector, I bet the man in the photo doesn't even know what he is.

Im sure he does, he's just got an unfortunate face


This is coming up at an amazing rate of speed for a London build, are they expecting it to be like this for the whole project length?

Im sure he does, he's just got an unfortunate face

:lol::lol::lol:

Really fantastic photographs, thank you to the select few who keep everyone constantly updated and informed! I can't believe it's already visible from across the Thames. :)

Fixer/erector, I bet the man in the photo doesn't even know what he is.





Frankly he looks like he doesn't care what he is! A feckless youth if ever I saw one.

Anyway back to topic. Does this rapid progress since Christmas mean we are on, ahead of, or behind schedule?

I guess that depends on which schedule you look at, there have been quite a few since this was proposed... :lol:

I think there were a couple of small delays a few weeks back when the core stopped growing for a little while? I can't remember properly, either way it should still be done by the Olympics at this rate.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4373015734_97b54ed187_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4373019918_34b23c5475_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4373022414_98b5c19437_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4372293471_620fe5beb3_b.jpg

by crispy123.

am sure this has been posted before..........but I love it:)

http://i50.tinypic.com/2irkyue.jpg

http://www.willfox.com/photos/skyscrapers/shard/8.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/photos/skyscrapers/shard/3.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/photos/skyscrapers/shard/5.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/photos/skyscrapers/shard/6.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/photos/skyscrapers/shard/7.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/photos/skyscrapers/shard/4.jpg

fuck meeee. This has got to be the fastest construction site out there

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiwqcM9f7A8

I'm in London this week for an interview at UCL. I might pop down to have a look at this. It's great.

I'm in London this week for an interview at UCL. I might pop down to have a look at this. It's great.

Cool :)

I'm going to do the same on my imperial visit day, my friend thinks I'm mental. I was really hoping I would get to go up Queen's Tower :ohno:.

Great video wjfox.

As I see, they will "clean" the building next to this one! :banana:

Its even faster than in Dubai !!!? :nuts:

Pouring allready floor 13-14 !



Remember a month and a few days back in time.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/270/core1.jpg

Thats a average of 3 floors/week.

^^yeah, already faster...but this one has to be done in schedule, right? most of Dubai's not.

Its even faster than in Dubai !!!? :nuts:

Thats a average of 3 floors/week.

...and without the slave labour too :)

...and without the slave labour too :)


:lol:

...and without the slave labour too :)


do you really need to say something like that ? and not expect a lot off-topic conversations ? amazing progress nonetheless.

remember the burj went up a complete floor at a time , not just the core .but this one is still a great pace.

I was just pottering around the SSC forums over the weekend trying to get a sense of scale for this and the Skytower in Abu Dhabi and the Library Tower in LA are pretty much the same height. This thing is going to look huge!

Is there a superstition in England about the number 13? Will there be a 13th floor?

Is there a superstition in England about the number 13? Will there be a 13th floor?

Yes, it's the same. This superstition came from the "Cene", the painting scene with Jesus. You can find it in Bible, it is really old.

That's explaining there are not number 13 in floors or like number of rooms. Since so many times, XVth century has created this superstition among all people, especially between members of Christianism.

It's older than in the United States, perhaps because it comes from the Europ.

Last weekend, from London eye.

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7234/eyeoe.jpg

Is there a superstition in England about the number 13? Will there be a 13th floor?

It is very common in England for the 13th floor to be a plant floor. This is the case in Tower 42 and several Canary Wharf towers , and was also true in the now-demolished Drapers Gardens.

This is possibly due to superstition, although I'm sure some building designers will argue that 13 floors is simply a convenient subdivide for elevators and other services.

By mrtcas


(gif seems to run very slowly on the first cycle, like its loading, but then seems ok)

http://i45.tinypic.com/xqgw0k.gif

damn its going up fast!

^^It's a depressing commentary on England that the speed of the building seems to be faster than the trains in the background.

Took loads of snaps of this on Sunday, but seems many others have too! Anyhow, a couple of extras, 2nd one from Monument...

http://i46.tinypic.com/hwjujr.jpg


http://i48.tinypic.com/2dm8qk0.jpg

:) :cheers:

Whaoh! A brutalist concrete block is going to hide an other!:)
Joking aside, very good progress!

The building tapers quite heavily towards the top, is the core going the whole way up, or what floor does it stop at?

^^ The core becomes smaller 2 or 3 times.

The concrete core stops at 240 meters. The final 70 meters is steel.

Wonderful gif picture! Its fantastic! Thanks for posting!

I read somewhere (trying to remember where) that this thing is rising by 3m a day.

3m per day? is it little or too much for this kind of constructions?

I don't think it's 3m per day. It's fast, but not that fast :)

Ryugyong much?

I don't think it's 3m per day. It's fast, but not that fast :)

I was sure there are at least a few days where they hit the 3 meter/ a day speed. It's almost one floor a day.

I'm amazed how quick this is going up! Anyway took this quick shot as it reminded me of something from the death star. Unbelievable to see it in real life!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2712/4379862555_2944891dcc.jpg

Ryugyong much?

Hm? This looks nuthin like ryugong... Dude....

It makes a change to see a building rising fast in London. If only planning approval and procurement was as fast!

I'd like to see the floor/steel work catch up with the core a bit more so its looks a bit more substantial.

At the moment its as if a weird concrete alien is appearing from a hole in the ground :D

I'd like to see the floor/steel work catch up with the core a bit more so its looks a bit more substantial.

At the moment its as if a weird concrete alien is appearing from a hole in the ground :D

From what I've seen so far the core rises for a few days, then stops. Then they focus on steel work and the core rises again. The core is always higher than the steel structure though. I think they can't immediately attach steel to the higher portion of the core, they have to give it time to cure.

I heard London calling...