541 
Baltimore Tower, rising 150m above the Isle of Dogs in London, England, is nicknamed The Slinky for its resemblance to the childhood toy. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, this 45-storey landmark houses 366 luxury residential units, a waterside café, and a triple-height penthouse restaurant. Its distinctive form dominates the Canary Wharf skyline, earning the 'Best Residential High-Rise Architecture' award at the International Property Awards in 2017.
A crucial part of this development is the work of Sapphire Balconies, a UK-based leader in balcony design and installation. Sapphire’s largest project to date, Baltimore Tower showcases the company’s expertise in handling complex, large-scale developments.
Sapphire Balconies supplied and installed over 10,000 panels for both the balustrading and the glass floors of the balconies. The balustrades, key to the tower’s aesthetic, consist of Sapphire’s custom-engineered, structural glass panels. These panels provide unobstructed views across the Canary Wharf skyline and the Greenwich Peninsula.
Given the challenge of the tower's oblong shape, Sapphire developed an innovative solution — a protective shroud system that allowed installation work to proceed safely and efficiently without the traditional use of scaffolding. This system safeguarded workers and streamlined the installation process.
The installation of balconies posed significant logistical challenges due to the sheer volume of materials involved and the building's unique, twisting design. The project required the precise coordination of over 1,000 tonnes of glass, requiring a robust supply chain and inventory management system to meet the strict construction schedule. The distinctive elliptical shape precluded the use of conventional scaffolding methods due to spatial constraints and safety concerns.
In response to these challenges, Sapphire Balconies introduced the Sapphire shroud, a safety system designed to envelop each storey during construction. This enabled the progression of installation work from the inside out, eliminating the need for external fall arrest systems and reducing the reliance on heavy lifting equipment.
This allowed multiple trades to work concurrently within the protected space, with the project employing a tandem operation of Sapphire’s installation team and the main contractor, CJ O'Shea Group Limited. The shroud system allowed for the balconies to be installed sequentially, from the lower floors upwards, without the interruption of traditional scaffolding construction and dismantling. Each phase of the installation was planned to coincide with the building's concrete pours, helping keep it on schedule and under budget.
The frameless glass system for the facade creates a striking effect, with clean lines and no support posts or edge covers impeding views. Each balcony was carefully built to align with the tower’s twisting form, which shifts incrementally as it ascends. This design also offers improved solar shading and weather protection for residents.
The frameless glass solution is also available as a competitively-priced option for other developments, and is designed to work with concrete balcony slabs. It is currently used in tower projects across Canada. Available in both clear and opaque variations, the glass is built to provide wind and privacy protection.
Etched glass panels between balconies add a layer of privacy for residents. Sapphire’s consideration of material choices and installation techniques contributes to the tower’s thermal efficiency, reducing the risk of thermal bridging.
Nick Haughton, Global ESG & Marketing Director at Sapphire, noted, "The ability to deliver on our promises at each stage of the project, from programme planning and procurement to manufacturing and just-in-time delivery, has been described by one of the UK’s largest developers as the ability to ‘parachute in and out’ at exactly the right time."
Interested parties can read the Baltimore Tower case study to learn more.
For further details on Sapphire’s innovative solutions or to arrange a consultation, interested parties are encouraged to visit the company website.
* * *
UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
