The Shard of Glass, London

Byrne Bros awarded ConForce the subcontract to design supply and install post tensioning to this most prestigious project in October 2009. It comprises level 2 which is a major transfer deck ( also designed to transfer loads from raking steel columns back to the cores ) and levels 41 – 72 which are flat slabs of a gradually decreasing size. The total post tensioning slab area is approximately 20,000m². At ground level, every major use of the tower, viewing galleries, residential, hotel and offices, will each have separate entrances. Offices take up the bulk of the scheme, 53,585m² of space over 27 floors. Each floor will have naturally ventilated winter gardens thanks to the double skinned cladding and the controllable louvre windows. There will be a mid-level viewing piazza and top quality restaurants 121.05 metres up and Shangri La will have a five star luxury hotel occupying 18 floors. Residential space will be limited and take up the tower from 186 metres to 224 metres making it by far the highest.

One of the main challenges will be working at the very high levels on the top floors and specific methods are being developed for the ConForce site works for this project. Design of the post tensioned slabs has already started and we are due to be on site constructing level 2 around April 2010.