The Sentinels

Infobox building
building_name = The Sentinels


caption =
building_type = Residential
architectural_style = Modernist
structural_system =
location = Holloway Circus, Birmingham, England
coordinates =
completion_date = 1971
demolition_date =
height = 90m
floor_count = 32
main_contractor =
architect = Bryant's Ltd
structural_engineer =
services_engineer =
civil_engineer =
other_designers =
quantity_surveyor =
awards =

The Sentinels are two 90 metre tall residential tower blocks on Holloway Head in Birmingham, England. The two towers, called Clydesdale Tower and Cleveland Tower, are both 32 storeys tall and were part of a major regeneration scheme following World War II which consisted of the construction of hundreds of tower blocks. They are the tallest tower blocks in the city.

History

Planning

The tower blocks were the brainchild of the Chairmen of Birmingham's House Building and HousingManagement Committees returning from a visit to Chicago to witness the opening of the Marina City development which consists of two 61-storey towers." [http://www.gees.bham.ac.uk/research/cpp/membersfiles/phil/biggerbetter.pdf Bigger is Better? Local authority housing and the strange attraction of high-rise, 1945-70] ", Phil Jones, University of Birmingham, 25 October 2002] The councillors decided that Birmingham needed a development similar to this and in 1965, plans began to surface for the construction of twin towers at Holloway Head to overlook the new ring road.

After discussions over height, it was decided that the tower blocks should be 32 stories tall, one story taller than the Red Road tower blocks in Glasgow, Scotland. It was decided to construct them out of concrete, which was common among tower blocks in the city during that time. They were designed by Bryant's Ltd. and both towers were different.

Construction

The project was approved in 1967 [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/cx/?id=streetsentinels-birmingham Emporis: The Sentinels] ] and construction of the towers commenced immediately. Cleveland Tower was completed in 1970 [ [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=clevelandtower-birmingham-unitedkingdom Emporis: Cleveland Tower] ] and Clydesdale Tower in 1971. [ [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=clydesdaletower-birmingham-unitedkingdom Emporis: Clydesdale Tower] ] Upon their opening, they had 488 flats.

Poor maintenance and social issues resulted in the residents becoming unhappy with the towers. There was also rivalry among residents with many being uncomfortable with people suffering from HIV/AIDS living in the towers. This was reported by the Daily Star, who interviewed one resident who said that she wore protective gloves when touching the buttons on the lift in fear of contracting the disease. [cite book|title=Imagine Hope: AIDS And Gay Identity |author=Simon Watney |pages=192 |year=2000 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=1841420581]

Refurbishment

In 1999, residents of The Sentinels together with four other council owned estates, voted to transfer their homes into the ownership of an independent housing association, Optima Community Association. Optima then embarked on an extensive refurbishment programme as part of a wider regeneration scheme in the Attwood Green area in Birmingham.

The project at The Sentinels involved replacing windows, kitchens, lifts, refurbishing the communal areas and improving security. A new entrance was constructed as well as a roof feature, lighting scheme, which illuminates the building a blue light at night, and the addition of new cladding to the exterior of the building.

In 2004, the Sentinels Residents Association submitted a petition to Birmingham City Council complaining about waste facilities. They also complained about a man, who had previously threatened suicide, being rehoused on a high floor of one of the towers. [ [http://old.birmingham.gov.uk/epislive/bccfinalrep.nsf/fe26c59da7950f8d80256bfa00499cf3/9f701bba03fe9b9e80256ede004c304c/$FILE/M150404%20.doc Minutes of a meeting of the Ladywood Ward Committee held on Thursday 15 April 2004 at 1900 hours, in St. Thomas' Primary School, Great Colmore Street, Lee Bank, Ladywood, Birmingham] ]

ee also

*Beetham Tower, Birmingham
*List of tallest buildings and structures in Birmingham

References

External links

* [http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=158 Clydesdale Tower on Skyscrapernews]
* [http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=159 Cleveland Tower on Skyscrapernews]
* [http://www.optima.org.uk/index.php Optima Community Association]