Europe’s Tallest Building by Renzo Piano Tops Out In London

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/renzo-pianos-shard-skyscraper-will-tower-over-london/" target="_blank">The Shard</a> in London topped out its central core last week, becoming the UK's tallest building. Conceived 11 years ago by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/los-angeles-boasts-worlds-largest-naturally-lit-museum-space/" target="_blank">Renzo Piano</a> and <a href="http://www.shardlondonbridge.com/" target="_blank">Seller Property Group</a>, the tower replaces a 1960s office tower next to the London Bridge Station with a vertical city, complete with office, residential, commercial, hotel, and restaurant space. Improved public transit centers and public plaza space are also part of the mixed use facility, which relies on <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/tag/natural-ventilation" target="_blank">natural ventilation</a>. Once finally complete in 2012, the Shard will become Europe's tallest building.

The Shard upon completion will be the tallest building in Europe at 310 meters.

Last week it topped out the 72 story central core at 244 meters, which makes it the tallest building in the UK.

Construction began on the mixed use development in 2009 and has proceeded at a rapid clip.

Construction photos from November of the tower.

Live web cam of construction on Monday, December 13th, 2010.

Live web cam of construction on Monday, December 13th, 2010.

The tower is expected to be complete in time for the summer 2012 Olympics in London.

The mixed use development replaces a 1960s tower with a vertical city.

The development includes a hotel, offices, residential and commercial space as well as restaurants and bars.

The tower makes use of natural ventilation and sky gardens in the office areas.

A viewing gallery will be open to the public on the upper levels.

Improved public transit centers are also part of the development as well as a large public plaza.

Renzo Piano conceived the design for the tower eleven years ago and compares it to a shard of glass.