The Shard

  • Stellar Property Group
  • UK
Providing precise survey, monitoring, and BIM services for The Shard, enabling safe construction, risk reduction, and long-term asset management of London’s tallest building.
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Delivering measurement certainty for a global landmark.

The Shard, at 310 metres, is the tallest building in Western Europe and one of London’s most iconic and technically complex developments. Built directly above London Bridge Station and adjacent to active Northern and Jubilee Line tunnels, the project demanded exceptional precision, innovation and coordination to deliver a world-class mixed-use landmark. 
Plowman Craven provided comprehensive measurement, monitoring and BIM services across the planning, construction and post-completion phases, supporting accurate design development, risk mitigation and long-term asset management. 

Client challenge.

The Shard required high-accuracy spatial data and continuous monitoring to support design, construction and lifecycle management in a highly constrained urban environment. Key drivers included: 

  • Mapping and modelling existing underground assets including Tube tunnels and ventilation shafts 
  • Providing precise 3D surveys to inform planning and design decisions 
  • Monitoring structural slabs, floor plates, and adjacent infrastructure throughout construction 
  • Supporting offsite fabrication and clash detection through laser scanning 
  • Delivering a robust BIM dataset to support long-term building management 

The project was delivered in three key phases: 

  • Planning and design 
  • Main construction phase 
  • Post-completion and operational lifecycle support 

Our
solution.

Plowman Craven implemented an integrated survey and BIM programme, combining high-accuracy laser scanning, structural monitoring and digital modelling. 

Planning and Design 

  • 3D topographical surveys of the site and surrounding environment 
  • Rights of Light studies and view verification to support planning 
  • Laser scanning and precise positioning of underground tunnels and ventilation structures 
  • 3D modelling of below-ground assets to inform design coordination 

 Construction Delivery 

  • Manual and automated deformation monitoring of nearby assets and active rail infrastructure 
  • High-accuracy scanning of floor plates and ceilings to support: 
  • Slab variation analysis 
  • Offsite fabrication and modular fit-out 
  • Clash detection and design validation 
  • MEP recording pre-fit-out 
  • Area referencing for leasing and commercial due-diligence 
  • HDR photography and digital TruView™ records to supplement point cloud data and support remote decision-making 

Post-Completion & Asset Lifecycle 

  • Consolidation of survey data into a fully parametric BIM model 
  • Ongoing model enhancement to support facilities management, maintenance and future refurbishment 

Project benefits.

This programme delivered detailed digital intelligence to support safe, efficient and coordinated delivery across a complex high-rise structure. 

01

True BIM-Enabled Delivery

A fully integrated, high-resolution model spanning architecture, structure, MEP and underground assets supported coordinated decision-making.

02

Risk Reduction & Quality Assurance

Continuous structural monitoring and laser scanning supported accurate construction, early issue identification and safer delivery.

03

Remote Access & Efficient Collaboration

TruView™ and 3D visualisation tools enabled effective offsite review and stakeholder coordination.

04

Enduring Digital Asset

A comprehensive, maintainable BIM dataset supports ongoing operations, maintenance and future upgrades.

Project outcome.

Plowman Craven delivered a highly accurate, fully integrated BIM model informed by extensive survey, scanning, and monitoring data. This enabled Sellar Property and project partners to manage a technically demanding construction programme with confidence, reducing risk and ensuring alignment between design intent and as-built conditions. 

The resulting digital model delivered certainty throughout construction and established a reliable foundation for future asset management and maintenance planning. 

The Shard
Glass and steel buildings exterior against sky. horizontal compoisition.
Property-The-Shard-London
Southwark end of London Bridge with London Bridge Quarter and The Shard
PC-Monitoring-Shard-Monitoring-Generic

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Know more. Risk less. At every stage.

With 60 years' experience providing clarity for complex, high stakes projects, we'll deliver the insight you need to build better.

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