April 2011
London’s newest and tallest skyscraper at 32 London Bridge has received a lot of attention for its striking triangular shape, attracting the nickname of ‘The Shard’. When completed in 2012, The Shard will be the tallest building in Western Europe, at over 300m, and dominate London’s skyline.
The irregular shape of the building presented unusual challenges in the construction process, because no two floors have the same footprint. Forresters’ client, Harsco Infrastructure, supplied their Safescreen® hydraulic climbing screen system to the project. The Safescreen® system surrounds and climbs the perimeter of the building as construction progresses, to prevent workers and debris falling from the building.
Harsco had to adapt the Safescreen® system to closely surround the Shard’s ever-reducing footprint and in doing so developed numerous innovative solutions to the challenges faced. Forresters worked closely with them to protect the resulting extensive portfolio of intellectual property.
Andy Harding, who advises Harsco Infrastructure, visited the site – currently standing at just over 50 floors – to see the inventions in action. Andy said “whilst we are adept at understanding an idea from just a brief description or a sketch, it is always great to see an invention at first hand, not least actually in use on site. The build programme is very tight, so that the Shard can be open in time for July 2012, and it was clear that the inventions are helping to reduce delays in the complicated construction process”
With its innovations protected, Harsco Infrastructure remains a market leader in climbing screen technology. With so many cities approving ever more striking construction projects, it is well placed to take on the challenge of building the world’s next record-breaking skyscraper.