The Shard at London Bridge

"Synchro provides the graphic simulation needed to deliver and improve construction solutions for our clients, along with a real time based 4D model for idea generation and problem solving within the project team."
-- Rob Owen, Director at Mace Group Ltd, using Synchro for Tate Modern and the Shard, London Bridge


On the south side of the River Thames at London Bridge, it is planned to redevelop the office space by the creation of what will clearly be a landmark structure. The main building is known as the Glass Shard and it will be the UK's tallest building. As its name implies, it is a glass exterior giving the appearance of a shard of glass.

The Client/Contractor

Sellar Property Group is the developer of the site. The project has recently started and Mace has been retained as Construction Managers. This places a major responsibility on Mace to deliver the programme on time and budget with a team of specialists they manage to do the work.

Background

To quote from the The Shard at London Bridge website: "Mace is a renowned global business providing management and construction services to the public and private sectors, with a reputation for finding the best solutions to complex projects. Mace has been responsible for the successful delivery of some of the most complex, prestigious and award winning projects including these in the UK: the BA London Eye, British Museum Great Court, the More London development, including City Hall, Heathrow T5, Heathrow Air Traffic Control Tower, RBS Gogarburn and the City of London's fourth tallest tower, 51 Lime Street."

As part of its best practice review, Mace concluded that Synchro had the best mix of qualities to provide support in "Visualised Planning" generally for its business and this project is seen to be one on which such a technique brings clear benefits.

To preview a Synchro .AVI on YouTube of the Shard at London Bridge click here.

Why Synchro?

Mace wanted a product which would promote comprehensive understanding through the delivery team. They selected the Synchro software application for a number of reasons:

• The software was able to integrate all aspects of design with site infrastructure and display it back in a flexible way

• The ability to improve the quality of communication with project stakeholders at all levels

• Its ability to link the dynamic scene with different timelines and display the ongoing consequences of different strategies for building out the various structures

• Its ability to bring in all the logistics implications of the programme to help position cranes, roads, parking, earth stores in a city centre site where logistics play a crucial role

• The opportunity to compare visually different strategies to understand flaws and wins for one route over another and share these with different trade specialists

• The interoperability with other planning systems

• Speed and simplicity of the approach.

What Synchro Ltd Provided

• The conversion of 2D drawings into a 3D model or the assimilation of 3D models, when provided

• Staff training

• Creation of logistics items and linking of 4D programme from 2D planning schedule

The Outcome

Synchro's software enabled Mace to orchestrate the logistics of the project in real time and spot potential problems, which are commonly missed using traditional planning methods, such as:

-- The deployment of tower cranes had been scheduled too late into the project. Early discovery of this coordination gap enabled the problem to be rectified before it even manifested itself.

-- Issues in the MEP scheduling, such as omissions of certain components from the program, were highlighted before they became a problem, thus avoiding costly time delays.

The client is now able to contemplate adopting Synchro in house as a means of formulating, proving and articulating construction strategy, and then controlling the actual output with the agreed plan -- building in certainty and, therefore, optimising results.

To experience the power of Synchro, take our ten-day, risk-free, test drive.