Mace signs contract for UK's Shard

The UK's Mace Group has signed the contract to construct the Renzo Piano-designed Shard at London Bridge Quarter, UK with developers LBQ.

The 80-storey, 54500 m2 Shard is the first phase of the UK£ 2 billion (€ 2,24 billion) London Bridge Quarter regeneration project, which includes redevelopment of the London Bridge Station railway concourse and development of London Bridge Place, a 17- storey corporate headquarters.

Site demolition for The Shard has been now been completed and test piling is currently underway.

Mace is expected to start construction in March with completed scheduled for early 2012.

Stephen Pycroft, chief executive of Mace Group, said, "This is a fantastic milestone for our company and an encouraging sign for our industry in difficult times. Mace first became involved with the Shard in 2004 and we are all delighted to conclude the negotiations so that we can get on with the challenge of building what will be a uniquely prestigious project for London."