Dec 19

The Shard launches Western Europe’s highest light show

The capital set to light up

London’s tallest skyscraper, the Shard, will host Western Europe’s highest light show from this evening.

Shard Lights’ will be switched on at 6.30pm today lighting up the top 20-storeys with a series of beams, stripes and sparkles that will be visible across the capital for every Londoner to enjoy.

There will be four different light sequences during the installation, with special displays marking Monday’s switch on, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. On the days in-between, a signature light show will mark every hour on the hour from dusk until dawn creating a unique public art installation in the sky.

Shard Lights forms part of the buildings ‘Illuminate’ campaign for the festive season, which aims to showcase the glittering sights, sounds and tastes of The Shard and London Bridge.

This year’s campaign will also ‘shine a light’ on cancer care by supporting the new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital, which neighbours The Shard. A series of activities for occupiers and the public will raise funds to support the continued development of Guy’s Cancer Centre and its services. Since it opened in September 2016, Guy’s Cancer Centre has provided state-of-the-art technology and a welcoming environment for patients with a focus on improving the overall experience of treatment to enhance healing.

Michael Baker, CEO of REM, asset manager for The Shard, said: “Shard Lights is becoming a fixture in London over the Christmas period. The installation designed by Woodroffe Bassett creates the Capital’s highest piece of public art for every Londoner to enjoy. This year, we also want to use The Shard’s iconic status to shine a light on the London Bridge neighbourhood and the Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital next door. The state-of-the-art Guy’s Cancer Centre will treat around 6,500 people a year and become a vital hub for the development of new therapies.”