SectionsLatest images: 20 Fenchurch Street (Walkie Talkie) picture gallery
Contractors on the 20 Fenchurch Street - also known as the Walkie Talkie - are hoping to ‘steel’ the show from The Shard as construction passes the halfway point.
The tower - a joint venture between Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group and designed by celebrated architect Rafael Viñoly - has reached the halfway point of steel works.
These latest images take in the site among the surrounding London streets and landmarks.
A spokesman said: “We’re really excited that the tower is taking shape - and challenging the Shard in the London skyline.”
At 39 storeys, the landmark stands over five times the height of the UK’s first fully steel framed structure, The Royal Insurance Building in Liverpool (1895-6) which is 7 storeys high.
When complete in April 2014, 20 Fenchurch Street will contain over 13,000 tonnes of steel – equivalent to the weight of 8,300 small cars. It will feature 38 storeys and 675,000 sq ft of floor space, and will be 525 ft tall, making it one of the most recognisable buildings in the capital.
The steel is being installed by Bury-based contractor William Hare Structural Engineers. All of the steel fabrication is being undertaken in the UK at their factories in Bury, Scarborough and Wetherby.
The majority of steel being used in the structure is provided by Tata Steel Europe.
All images courtesy of William Hare Ltd.
