Sydney Tower

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = Sydney Tower


caption = The Sydney Tower is Sydney's tallest free-standing structure, and the second tallest in Australia after the Gold Coast's Q1 Building.
location = Sydney, Australia
coordinates = coord|33|52|13.64|S|151|12|32|E|type:city_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title
groundbreaking = 1970
constructed = 1970–1981
opening =
use = Observation and communications tower
antenna_spire = Convert|305|m|ft|0|abbr=on
roof =
top_floor = Convert|260|m|ft|0|abbr=on for Sydney Tower Skywalk
floor_count =
elevator_count = 3
cost = AUD$36 million
floor_area =
architect = Donald Crone and Associates
engineer =
contractor =
developer =
owner = Westfield Centrepoint
management =
references =

Sydney Tower (also known as the AMP Tower, AMP Centrepoint Tower, Centrepoint Tower or just Centrepoint) is Sydney's tallest free-standing structure, and the second tallest in Australia (with the Q1 building on the Gold Coast being the tallest). It is also the third tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere (after Auckland's Sky Tower and Melbourne, Australia's Eureka Tower, though Sydney Tower's main observation deck is almost Convert|50|m|ft|0|abbr=on higher than that of Auckland's Sky Tower). The Sydney Tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers.

The tower stands Convert|305|m|ft|0|abbr=on above the Sydney CBD, being located at 100 Market Street, between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets. It is accessible from the Pitt Street Mall, and sits upon Centrepoint (to which the tower is often referred), an office and shopping centre development. The tower is open to the public, and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city, being visible from a number of vantage points throughout town and from adjoining suburbs.

While AMP managed the Centrepoint shopping centre, the tower was officially referred to as "AMP Tower". After the Westfield Group took over ownership of Centrepoint in December 2001, the name was changed to Sydney Tower. [Westfield Group Limited. [http://westfield.com/corporate/retailer/au/centrepoint.html Westfield Centrepoint] (from the Westfield Group website. Accessed on 2008-03-02.)]

History

Construction of the office building commenced in 1970, and tower construction began in 1975. Public access to the tower, at the time the fourth tallest building in the world, began in September 1981. [http://www.sydneytoweroztrek.com.au/tower.html Sydney Tower] (from the Sydney Tower / Oztrek website. Accessed 2008-06-21.)] The total cost of construction was AUD$36 million.Fact|date=June 2008

Prior to construction of the tower, the height limit in Sydney had been set at Convert|279|m|ft|0|abbr=on, to allow for safe overflights by flying boats,Fact|date=June 2008 an aircraft type that had been obsolescent for almost two decades.

In July 2008, one of the lifts malfunctioned Convert|200|m|ft|0|abbr=on from ground level, trapping the 11 occupants for several hours. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/11-spend-hours-trapped-in-sydney-tower-lift/2008/07/02/1214950855941.html Eleven trapped in city lift] . Sydney Morning Herald 2 July 2008]

tructure

ections

There are three main sections of the tower open to public access. One is the observation deck at Convert|250|m|ft|0|abbr=on above ground level with a fully-enclosed viewing platform featuring 360 degree views of the city and surrounds. This floor also features a small gift shop, a readout displaying data on the conditions of the tower (wind speed, direction and sway amplitude). The Sydney Tower Skywalk platform at Convert|268|m|ft|0|abbr=on above ground level has an open-air viewing platform only accessible as part of planned and booked tours.

There are also revolving restaurants, one à la carte and one buffet. The buffet restaurant was renovated in 2006. It seats 220 people, and serves 185,000 customers annually, of which 50,000 are international visitors, mostly from Asia. [" [http://au.news.yahoo.com/070201/13/12a3z.html Revamped restaurant for Sydney Tower] " - Yahoo!7 News, Friday 2 February 2007]

Details

The tower has a maximum capacity of 960 people. Travel from the ground to the tower is via three high speed double-deck elevators that reach the observation deck in approximately 40 seconds if on maximum speed, this depends on wind conditions at the time. [Cite web|url=http://www.sydney.com.au/sydney_tower.htm|title=The Sydney Tower |accessdate=2007-02-10|publisher=Sydney Online Pty Ltd.]

Cultural events

Leading up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the tower was decorated with sculptures of athletes, which were positioned above the main body of the tower and in some cases overhung the edges. These sculptures were removed in 2003 and relocated to Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush. [cite web|title="New home for athletes of steel"|publisher=Australian Government: Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts|date=2003-06-01|url=http://www.dcita.gov.au/Article/0,,0_5-2_4009-4_115412,00.html|accessdate=2006-10-14] The figures were placed atop the tower using an Erickson S-64 Aircrane heavy lift helicopter known as "Elvis".

On several occasions, the tower has been used to launch fireworks or it has been illuminated with coloured lights as part of various celebrations in Sydney, such as New Years Eve or during the Olympics in 2000.

Every year, the Sydney Tower Run-up comprises the challenge of running up 1,504 stairs from Pitt St mall to the Observation Deck as quickly as possible. [http://www.supersprint.com.au/Default.aspx?Menu=416&Content=962&Template=1 Sydney Tower Run Up] (from the 'Supersprint' website)] The event is to raise money for the Cancer Council, and the two winners become eligible to compete in the Empire State Building Run-up.

See also

* List of towers
* Hyperboloid structure
** List of Hyperboloid structures

References

External links

* [http://www.sydneytower.com.au/ Sydney Tower website]
** [http://www.skywalk.com.au/ Sydney Tower SkyWalk tours]
** [http://www.sydney-tower-restaurant.com/ Sydney Tower Restaurants]
*
* (Includes photos taken during construction)