The Shard

The Shard is the tallest building in the UK, towering to a height of 310m. It was described by architect Renzo Piano as ‘a vertical city for thousands of people to work in and enjoy, and for millions to take to their hearts’.

The mixed-use tower is located on the south bank of the river Thames next to London Bridge Station. The sleek, pyramid form accommodates a variety of spaces, with larger floors at the bottom for restaurants, offices and public spaces, a hotel in the middle section, and private residences at the top. A public viewing gallery is also housed 240m above street level, offering panoramic city views.

Brand: Scheldebouw

Architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop & Adamson Associate Architects

Contractor: Mace

Developer: LBQ and Sellar Property Group

The project

The concept

The Shard’s plan is an irregular, eight-sided polygon, with each segment sloping in a different direction with a varying exposure to the sun. These eight glazed façades gradually taper as they proceed to the tip of the building, representing a monumental house of cards, with each successive layer leaning inwards at assorted angles. The shards never touch each other, remaining independent to avoid the effects of wind load on large expanses of converging flat glass surfaces.

What did we do?

Due to the building’s asymmetrical shape, the design of the glazed envelope was highly complex. We produced and installed over 55,700 sqm of different architectural envelope components, totalling around 11,000 units. To ensure high transparency, we created a passive double-skin ventilated façade, and used only extra-clear, low-iron glass – with glazing panels that oversail the steel frames to reduce their visibility. We also designed, manufactured and installed special interior partitions for the winter garden areas.