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Shard project chief: above ground by Xmas
1 October, 2009 | By Nick Whitten
A critical milestone was reached last week on the £425 million project to create Europe’s tallest building, when the first crane was installed.
Bernard Ainsworth said this proved that work on the main structure was going ahead, and that the 310 m-high Shard’s concrete core would be visible before the end of the year.
Piling is now all but complete, and excavation for the basement started last Thursday, with more than 100 contractors now on the site next to London Bridge.
Mr Ainsworth, of developer Sellar, said: “It all proves what we have said the whole time, that the intention was to build this. We were never here to pretend – it is definitely happening.”
The first of five tower cranes was erected by main contractor Mace, standing 105m above the ground.
It will initially be used to lift the reinforcement bar as the construction of the ground floor slab is completed.
A second crane will be put in place in the next couple of weeks to service the slipform core construction.
Byrne Brothers is on site to carry out the basement excavation with the help of Keltbray. Steel is expected to start going into the ground in mid to late November.
Mr Ainsworth added: “In this climate, any building is good. We are pleased with the progress so far. The team is building up.
“We have got to finish it by May 2012 so it needs to move speedily.”
By the end of 2010 the Shard’s concrete core will top out at around level 72 of the 87-storey building.
In all, four cranes will service the steel frame erection up to level 40, and one will continue to climb up the building from level 72 upwards to construct the steel spire.
Transport for London and upmarket hotel firm Shangri-La have between them agreed to take up 40 per cent of the Shard space.
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