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Glasgow Tower

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Glasgow Tower
Map
General information
TypeObservation tower
LocationGlasgow, Scotland
Completed2001
Height
Antenna spire127 metres (417 ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Richard Horden
Structural engineerBuro Happold

Glasgow Tower is a free-standing tower located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland and forms part of Glasgow Science Centre complex.

Background and world records

At 127 metres tall the Glasgow Tower is currently the tallest free-standing structure in Scotland. It holds a Guinness World Record for being the tallest tower in the world in which the whole structure is capable of rotating 360 degrees. The whole structure rests upon a 65 centimetre diameter thrust bearing, and is not connected to its foundations, merely resting in a 15 meter deep caison, this allows it to rotate under computer control to face into the wind. The tower has two elevators each with a 12 person capacity, but this is normally limited to 6 guests plus a single member of staff for reasons of comfort. There is also an emergency staircase, comprising 523 stairs from the Cabin level to the Podium.[1]

Design

Looking up the Glasgow Tower from street level

It is shaped like an aerofoil (as if an aircraft wing had been set in the ground vertically), with computer-controlled motors to turn it into the wind in order to reduce wind resistance and improve stability through aerodynamic forces (wind split by the aerofoil applies an equal force to both sides of the structure, literally holding it in place). The tower, previously known as the Millennium Tower, was the winning design in an international competition to design a tower for the city centre of Glasgow.[2] The tower is the spiritual successor to the Clydesdale Bank Tower that stood on approximately the same spot during the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival.

History

The tower has been plagued by safety and engineering problems throughout its history. Problems with the Nigerian-made thrust bearing on which it rotates led to it being closed between February 2002 and August 2004.[3] On 30 January 2005, ten people were trapped in the lifts and the rescue took over five hours to complete.[4] Following the incident, the tower re-opened on December 21, 2006.[5]

In September 2007, a charity abseil event was held on Glasgow Tower.[6][7]

In August 2010 the tower closed again due to "technical issues stemming from its original design" and is not expected to open again until 2012 at the earliest.[8]

Introduction

At 127 metres high, the structure is currently the tallest tower in Scotland and the second tallest free-standing structure after the Inverkip Power Station chimney. It also holds a Guinness World Record for being the tallest tower in the world capable of rotating 360 degrees from its base to its top.[9]

Design

It is shaped like an aerofoil (as if an aircraft wing had been set in the ground vertically), with computer-controlled motors to turn it into the wind in order to reduce wind resistance. The tower, previously known as the Millennium Tower, was the winning design in an international competition to design a tower for the city centre of Glasgow.[10] The original architectural design was by the architect Richard Horden, with engineering design by Buro Happold, however, after commissioning the project was taken over by the Glasgow architects BDP. In the end the tower cost £10 million. The tower is the spiritual successor to the Clydesdale Bank Tower that stood on approximately the same spot during the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival.

Tallest Building Debate

The Glasgow Tower shown within the Glasgow Science Centre complex

When completed in 2001, it became the tallest tower in Scotland. The website for the tower claims it is "The tallest freestanding building in Scotland".[11] Although the tower has an observation desk (at 105 metres), it does not have floors continuously from the ground and therefore it is not considered a building by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

History

The tower has been plagued by safety and engineering problems throughout its history. Problems with the Nigerian-made thrust bearing on which it rotates led to it being closed between February 2002 and August 2004.[12] On 30 January 2005, ten people were trapped in the lifts and only rescued after five hours.[13] Following the incident, the tower re-opened again on December 21 2006.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Flickr photo of World Record certificate". Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  2. ^ "Horden Cherry Lee Architects". Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  3. ^ "BBC News Report". 2004-08-23. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  4. ^ "BBC News Report". 2005-01-30. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  5. ^ "BBC News Report". 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  6. ^ "Glasgow Science Centre webpage on event". Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  7. ^ "Cash for Kids charity page". Archived from the original on 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  8. ^ "STV News". 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  9. ^ "Flickr photo of World Record certificate". Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  10. ^ "Horden Cherry Lee Architects". Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  11. ^ "Glasgow Tower Facts". Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  12. ^ "BBC News Report". Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  13. ^ "BBC News Report". Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  14. ^ "BBC News Report". Retrieved 2008-03-28.
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