A London skyscraper is getting what is hoped will be a permanent fix for the way it heated up the streets of the UK capital.  Sunshades are being installed on the building this month, before the hot summer sun is again reflected on the city below with the power to melt parked cars. 

The 20 Fenchurch Street building’s mirrored, concave facade initially won accolades for style.  But that turned to scorching scorn, when it turned out the mirrors concentrated the suns power and focused it on the street.  Businesses reported paint peeling off the front walls, tiles popping off, and holes burned into fabric.  Reporters had fun frying eggs to demonstrate the heat – over 90 degrees C at its worst.  One fellow’s new Jaguar was fried, too.  People went from calling it the “walkie talkie” building (because of its unique profile), to calling it the “death ray building”.

This month, crews will install horizontal aluminum shades designed by the building’s architect to block the sun from reflecting below.  The fins will also block the view of the River Thames for at least some of the tenants.  But the developers insist, “The extra texture, detail and reduction in reflectivity will make the building a better neighbor.”

In its 2014 annual results, the developer Land Securities declared:  “A solar glare issue drew attention to the building for the wrong reasons but did nothing to deter lettings with 200,000 square feet taken up in the months after the problem materialized.”  20 Fenchurch Street is 87 percent occupied.