The Shard, which at 310m will be London’s tallest mixed-use building, has lost an innovative radiator which was to wrap around its tip and dissipate excess heat without the use of fans or condensers

Developments in heating and cooling equipment over the nine years since the design was first envisaged mean it is no longer the sustainable solution it once was.

Speaking at a press event to mark the start of construction on the London Bridge site , project architect William Matthews of Renzo Piano said he and his colleagues had reluctantly ditched the radiator because the energy expended in pumping water to the top of the tower would have been greater that that used by conventional coolers.

However, the team is still aiming for an BREEAM excellent rating for the building, which is due for completion in May 2012.

The building services consultant is Arup.

Source

Building Sustainable Design