Following the destruction of New York 's World Trade Center ( WTC ) in the terror attacks of 11 September 2001 , architects and structural engineers worldwide began re-evaluating the design of tall structures . The Shard 's early conceptual designs were among the first in the UK to be amended following the publication of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST ) report into the collapse of the WTC . The building is designed to maintain its stability under very onerous conditions , with its post-tensioned concrete and composite floors , load-bearing pillars and tapering shape giving it a sway tolerance of
terror attacks of 11 September 2001
September 11 attacks
The Shard