It is designed to be the tallest building in Europe and will be London’s only true mixed-use building with total public access. The 1016 ft conical tower will house a mix of recreational, residential, and commercial facilities. The lower half, floors 4 through 31, will consist of office spaces, while the upper half, floors 37 through 64, will contain apartments and hotel facilities. Floors 1 through 3 will be commercial public levels. In addition, there will be a mid-level public piazza on floors 34 and 36 as well as public viewing galleries on floors 65 and 66, the highest of which will be 735 ft above street level.
The plans include the demolition of an existing 214,000 SF office block (Southwark Towers) to make way for the new, environmentally friendly, building. Its economical design includes a tapering form that naturally reduces deflection and wind load at the top, and a floor structure that is a carefully integrated system of raised floors, slabs, tapered steel beams, and mechanical ventilation systems.
Shangri-La, Asia Pacific's most prestigious luxury hotel group, is making its European debut when it launches its new hotel within The Shard. The five-star Hotel Shangri-La will position The Shard firmly as Europe's gateway to the burgeoning markets of the Far East.
The deluxe 195-room Shangri-La, accessed by a dedicated entrance at street level, will occupy 19 upper floors of the iconic structure. Guests will enter a double height lobby with uninterrupted views of London. The 170 deluxe guestrooms, averaging more than 42 square meters (455 square feet) each, will be amongst the largest in London. Its 25 suites, including 2 speciality suites and a presidential suite, will offer glass-enclosed "winter garden" balconies.
Client: Sellar Properties
Architect: Renzo Piano
Status: Under Construction