Children from a local school in Bermondsey, London, have designed this year’s iconic festive light display at The Shard – Shard Lights – illuminating the top of the building throughout December.
Real Estate Management (UK) Limited (“REM”) – the asset managers of The Shard – offered the children the chance to help design this year’s Christmas lights display, which sees the top 20 storeys of Western Europe’s tallest building transformed into a vibrant spectacle, visible across the capital.
Inspired by iconic images associated with this time of year, the schoolchildren’s designs include a festive tree, a wrapped present and Father Christmas’ hat. The annual light show launched on Monday 9th December at 6.50pm.
In order to put the designs into practice, the team had to install 552 LED lights from 800ft to 1,016ft, with 8,000 metres of cable – roughly the length of 956 London double-decker buses. Abseiling lighting technicians, the highest workers on a building structure in London, undertook the incredible feat.
Michael Baker, CEO of REM, said: “Every year we produce a tremendous display that lights up the London skyline but, as we enter a new decade, we felt that it was time to do something a little different.
“We are committed to engaging with the local community – something that we have taken great pride in since opening our doors in 2013. The fact that London and global audiences will see the children’s magnificent work is hugely gratifying, and ensures that Shard Lights is an exciting event for The Shard’s occupiers and visitors as well as the wider community.”
James Sellar, Chairman of Sellar, said: “I’m thrilled to be pressing the button officially turning on the lights that will showcase the imaginations of school children from the borough.“
Katherine Wooder, Executive Head Teacher of The Bridges Federation, said: “The opportunity for our children to take part in such an iconic event was one that we simply couldn’t pass up. We are always looking for unique ways for our pupils to express themselves creatively, and this provides them with one of the biggest stages to do so. They have worked tirelessly to create a show that the whole of London can enjoy.”
Shard Lights will run until 30th December with a special finale on the evening of 31st December to celebrate the New Year. The spire will illuminate the city in white as Big Ben signals the start of 2020, before emulating London’s renowned firework display in a unique light show.
