Gunnebo Makes an Entrance at The Shard

Gunnebo UK was chosen amongst fierce competition to supply high capacity Speed Gates (SpeedStile FL), Entrance Gates (GlasStile S) and frameless glass ballustrade for the main entrance on Level 2 of The Shard, London’s latest skycraper and Europe’s tallest commercial building. 

Gunnebo’s Speed Gates (SpeedStile FP1800) were also installed at the staff entrance on the ground floor to provide attractive units in an unmanned area and to allow a good flow rate and prevent people from jumping over the gates due to the higher glass panel option. 

"The strength of Gunnebo's presence in the worldwide market...helped to secure the business."

Louise Summers
Sales Executive Entrance Control,
Gunnebo UK

The Shard, located in the London Bridge Quarter of London, is Europe’s tallest commercial building. A spectacular light and laser show marked the formal inauguration of The Shard on Thursday, 5 July 2012. The skyscraper will redefine London’s skyline and become a symbol of the Capital, recognisable throughout the world as well as putting the London Bridge Quarter on the world map. This 87-storey building with its crystalline façade, is a mixed-use 310m (1,016ft) vertical city of high-quality offices, world-renowned restaurants, the five-star Shangri-La hotel, exclusive residential apartments and the capital's highest viewing gallery offering 360° views. The Shard was designed in 2000 by Renzo Piano, an Italian architect best known for creating Paris’ Pompidou Centre in collaboration with Britain’s Richard Rogers. 

Gunnebo UK, worked alongside Renzo Piano in the very early stages of the project fit-out designs (around 2006) and promoted the operational speed, slim design and side glazing features of their SpeedStile FL product range for the main entrance. The sleek and stylish nature of the product was in synergy with the beauty of the building itself and the reason why Gunnebo’s SpeedStile FL’s were chosen despite strong competition from major competitors. 

"The strength of Gunnebo’s presence in the worldwide market and its flexible approach was another factor that helped to secure the business. Gunnebo also worked closely and regularly with the lead designers from TSP (the design consultants), and Adamson Associates (the architects) and evolved the equipment designs to suit the client's operational requirements,” explains Louise Summers, Sales Executive Entrance Control, Gunnebo UK. 

"Gunnebo attended multiple meetings over the past couple of years with the key decision makers to enforce the company’s presence, build crucial relationships and show full commitment to the project which included Mace (the main contractors) and FFE Fire & Security, the access control provider, who was ultimately responsible for placing Gunnebo's order," continues Louise. 

"It has been critical to maintain the relationships with all of these companies collectively and individually over the years to ensure our competition could not attempt to take the entrance control business in an alternative supplier direction," Louise concludes.