Mace Ltd uncovers practical solutions for cleaning The Shard's 5500 windows

The Shard is a 310-meter (1,016 ft) skyscraper in London, making it the tallest building in the UK and one of the tallest in Europe. It has 95 floors comprising of mixed-use offices, restaurants, the Shangri-La Hotel, luxury apartments, and a public viewing gallery

Client

Mace Ltd

Services

Cleaning

The Shard attracts 1.5 million visitors each year

The challenge

Project contractor Mace Ltd, and its professional partners, needed to know which design would allow the cleaning of The Shard's 5500 windows, set in a sloping facade, in the safest and most efficient way, and with the minimum intrusion for occupiers.

The solution

Sitemark’s specialist FM consultants conducted trials on a prototype structure, located at the Netherlands factory of window manufacturer Scheldebouw. Three design options were considered, all with access from inside the planned building. Risk analyses, methods statements and video demonstrations were produced, with commentary on the economics of cleaning The Shard’s 51,000 sq m of facade window glass and its sun blinds.

Get in touch

The results

After thorough consultation and testing, Mace Ltd reached a well-informed decision on the final window-cleaning approach. The selected solution ensures safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, aligning with the needs of occupiers, workers, and visitors. The Shard, designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, attracts 1.5 million visitors each year.

There were technical challenges in abundance. Sitemark understood what the different parties wanted from the consultation and supplied the information for us to reach our decision on the final construction. They were very professional in their approach, and they listened well when we explained our needs and interests."

Roger Beswick Project Manager

Let's connect

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you and see how we can transform your facilities management service. If you’ve got any questions or would like to book a chat with one of the team, get in touch today.