Installation of the first of 11,000 glass panels that will form the facade of London Bridge's Shard of Glass skyscraper started this week.
The panels, which in total will cover an area of more than 56,000 sq m, are made of a low iron glass with internal blinds.
Already 2,500 of the panels have been manufactured and are awaiting delivery to site. On arrival the panels will be erected from the internal floors thereby eliminating any hazards that could come from an external erection method. The target is to install a floor a week.
Meanwhile, work on The Shard's concrete core has already passed the 30-storey level, with the steelwork following close behind.
The Shard is scheduled to be completed by May 2012, and will comprise offices, a five star hotel, viewing galleries, bars, restaurants and luxury apartments, totalling approximately 920,000 sq ft.
It forms part of the £2bn Renzo Piano-designed London Bridge Quarter regeneration project around London Bridge Station which is being developed by Sellar Property Group in conjunction with the State of Qatar. The scheme includes the 419,000 sq ft net London Bridge Place office building, a public piazza together with a redeveloped station concourse and new bus station.
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