London tower will burn no more
March 4, 2014
By
Canadian Consulting Engineer
The owners of the "Walkie Talkie" tower on 20 Fenchurch Street in London, U.K. have found a solution to its problem of scorching pedestrians on the street below.
The owners of the “Walkie Talkie” tower on 20 Fenchurch Street in London, U.K. have found a solution to its problem of scorching pedestrians on the street below.
Last summer, sunlight bouncing down off the tower’s reflective glass reportedly “melted” a parked car’s mirrors and scorched materials in a streetfront store. The building’s convex shape served to concentrate the sunlight beams.
The Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) reports that the tower’s owners, Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group, have applied for permission to install a brise-soleil system of horizontal aluminum fins on the building’s exterior from floors three to 34. The fins will deflect sunlight away.
In the meantime, a protective shade has been installed over the pavement as a temporary solution.
Click here for the article in CBTUH Global News.
