Maintaining The Shard isn’t like keeping your garden shed tidy. The yearly operating costs, including cleaning 11,000 glass panels, heating, and elevator maintenance, are roughly £5 million per year.
Imagine your council tax bill for that. Actually, don’t imagine it—you’d vomit. And the elevators travel at 6 meters per second, which feels like being launched off a catapult. If you’re scared of heights, just close your eyes and think of the £5 million it costs to keep those doors closing smoothly.
Surprising Fact: It Wasn’t Even Supposed To Be This Tall
Here’s the juicy bit: the original plan for The Shard was only 75 meters shorter. But the architect, Renzo Piano, was told to “think bigger,” so he went full on “I’ll show you” mode.
The Shard: Why it's famous, if it's free to visit and how much a meal
He based the shape on a drawing of a glass splinter his girlfriend (now wife) drew on a napkin. True story. So, the entire price tag—£435 million—is basically the cost of a romantic dinner conversation that got wildly out of hand.
