Glasgow Tower
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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.
Tower that stood on approximately the same spot during the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival
.
on which it rotates led to it being closed between February 2002 and
August 2004. On 30 January 2005, ten people were trapped in the lifts and the rescue took over five hours to complete. Following the incident, the tower re-opened on December 21, 2006.
In September 2007, a charity abseil event was held on Glasgow Tower.
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.
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.
, 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
.
(CTBUH).
on which it rotates led to it being closed between February 2002
and
August 2004
. On 30 January 2005, ten people were trapped in the lifts and only rescued after five hours. Following the incident, the tower re-opened again on December 21 2006.
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
located on the south bank of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and forms part of Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre is a visitor attraction located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a purpose-built science centre composed of three principal buildings which are the Science Mall, an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower...
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 bearingThrust bearing
A thrust bearing is a particular type of rotary bearing. Like other bearings they permit rotation between parts, but they are designed to support a high axial load while doing this.Thrust bearings come in several varieties....
, 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.
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 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. The tower is the spiritual successor to the Clydesdale BankClydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...
Tower that stood on approximately the same spot during the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival
Glasgow Garden Festival
The Glasgow Garden Festival was the third of the United Kingdom's five National Garden Festivals, and the only one to take place in Scotland.It was held in Glasgow between 26 April and 26 September 1988...
.
History
The tower has been plagued by safety and engineering problems throughout its history. Problems with the Nigerian-made thrust bearingThrust bearing
A thrust bearing is a particular type of rotary bearing. Like other bearings they permit rotation between parts, but they are designed to support a high axial load while doing this.Thrust bearings come in several varieties....
on which it rotates led to it being closed between February 2002 and
August 2004. On 30 January 2005, ten people were trapped in the lifts and the rescue took over five hours to complete. Following the incident, the tower re-opened on December 21, 2006.
In September 2007, a charity abseil event was held on Glasgow Tower.
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.
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 StationInverkip power station
Inverkip power station is an oil-fired power station in Inverclyde, on the west coast of Scotland. It is actually located closer to Wemyss Bay than Inverkip, and dominates the local area with its chimney, the third tallest chimney in the UK and Scotland's tallest free-standing structure...
chimney. It also holds a Guinness World Record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for being the tallest tower in the world capable of rotating 360 degrees from its base to its top.
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. The original architectural design was by the architect Richard Horden, with engineering design by Buro HappoldBuro Happold
Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
, 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
Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...
Tower that stood on approximately the same spot during the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival
Glasgow Garden Festival
The Glasgow Garden Festival was the third of the United Kingdom's five National Garden Festivals, and the only one to take place in Scotland.It was held in Glasgow between 26 April and 26 September 1988...
.
Tallest Building Debate
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". 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 HabitatCouncil on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is an international body in the field of tall buildings and sustainable urban design...
(CTBUH).
History
The tower has been plagued by safety and engineering problems throughout its history. Problems with the Nigerian-made thrust bearingThrust bearing
A thrust bearing is a particular type of rotary bearing. Like other bearings they permit rotation between parts, but they are designed to support a high axial load while doing this.Thrust bearings come in several varieties....
on which it rotates led to it being closed between February 2002
February 2002
February 2002: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December- February 2, 2002 :...
and
August 2004
August 2004
August 2004: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December-Events:August 2004: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December...
. On 30 January 2005, ten people were trapped in the lifts and only rescued after five hours. Following the incident, the tower re-opened again on December 21 2006.