Photo Courtesy of In-Press

With the last few sections of structural steel recently erected, the U.K.'s tallest building, London's Shard, stands at its 310-meter height.

With the last few sections of structural steel recently erected, the U.K.'s tallest building, London's Shard, stands at its 310-meter height. Some 500 tonnes of steel in some 800 pieces went into forming the spire, which will receive over 500 panes of glass cladding.

Steel subcontractor Severfield-Reeve Structures Ltd. began erecting the skyscraper's 12,500-tonne main frame around two years ago. Columns and composite floors form the lower 40 levels; concrete columns and post-tensioned slabs complete the upper 32 floors.

Designed by architect Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Genoa, Italy, the skyscraper's shell-and-core construction is estimated at $680 million. The Shard is due for completion this summer. The main contractor is Mace Ltd., London.