The Spinnaker tower, Will it ever be Finished?

[ILL Tonkso 1,238]

A common subject in architectual discusion i have noticed is the Spinnaker Tower Project. Or rather the painfull delays. As a Portsmouth local im all to familiar with the Landmark, when Portsmouth City Council announced the project to us almost 10 years ago now, they promised us a Landmark Tower ready for the Millenium Celebrations, its now September 2005 and the things STILL not finished. The project keeps running into problem after probelem (its the lifts at the moment i think) giving the tower an uncertain future and a dropping popularity with the locals.

 

What is the Spinnaker Tower?

 

The Spinnaker Tower is a Large Observation Tower (tallest in the UK) designed for the regeneration of Portsmouth. its unique Sail design (the Burj Al Arab in Dubai came after the tower) is visible from miles around and offers unique views over the City and the Solent.

 

What Happened?

 

Since the project begun, it had problems with the contractors, they kept pulling out of the project leaving it stranded untill 'Molem' took on the tower. Next, the white paint that covers the tower reacted with the salty sea air and flaked away, also the colour had a bluish tint and the tower virtually disappeared from a distance.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Gunwharf_Tower_17.jpg align=baseline>

 

Whats next you ask, well the concrete cracked. In the middle of April 2004, a crack appeared in the structure raising questions on the towers structural reliablity and saftey.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Gunwharf_Tower_24.jpg align=baseline>

Allthough these problems have now been resolved and the tower is complete, why wont it open? Well, the lifts dont work.

 

So will it ever be open to the public?

 

Post your views and Opinions here.

 

align=baseline>

[Slowhand 0]

I'm guessing putting more support beams and thickening the steel infrastructure might help it a little.

It will probably be finished later on when they make a couple of changes to it.

It looks so beautiful.

[Sim Freak96 0]

dont worry they will finish it he he!

[Makollig Jezfahted 0]

Amazing! Magnefique! Tres bien! Masterpiece du architecie!

[Compromise 1]

Yes I am sure it will be finished.

Look forward to going up it.

[Woko 2]

I'm sure too.  It's too popular.  They can't stop the construction. Too many people all around the world know it.

[thisisourcity1 0]

It doesn't need any steel or concrete reinforcments because it's already complete. The only problem is the lifts aren't working so it's not open yet.

Don't worry though, virtually every project has delays around my local area. They were talking about expanding the metro rail for over 12 years, and upgrading the bridge connecting my hometown to Canada for 50 years.

[GaryReggae 80]

Yes, it's a shame it's still not open, it was supposed to be ready for the millennium!!! Still, they should soon have the lifts fixed I would have thought. I bet the view from there is fantastic...although you will no longer be able to see one of Portsmouth's most infamous, interesting and culturally significant landmarks from the top as the council demolished it (TYhe Tricorn). However, I am working on BATting it.

[gascooker 4]

Anything architectural in the hands of Portsmouth City Council is doomed to fail. Their track record is awful. They have a special talent in the making white elephants.

Personally, although the tower looks nice from the ground, the fact the lifts are broken will at least save people having to look at dreariness which is Gosport.

Should prove a good tourist attraction. Though knowing Pompey city council I doubt they will be able to keep it open for more than six months, after which it will start to rot like the Tricorn, and the whole thing will be demolished by 2015 - i'd put money on that.

[ILL Tonkso 1,238]

Sounding Very Optimistic there Gascooker

 

Anyway, heres another shot of the spinnaker towe im about to show in the Great british BAT Thread https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?mode=viewtopic&topicID=67687&num=30&pageNo=5

 

Its my remake ofmy original Spinnaker BAT (still early stages though)

 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//tonskospinnakertower1.jpg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//tonskospinnakertower2.jpg align=baseline>

[1ajs 49]

sounds like another leening tower of piza to me

did not know they were still building it lol

[ILL Tonkso 1,238]

A bot of news for you all, the Spinnaker Tower officially opened its doors today, shame i wasnt around to be there

[olly 0]

You've Got To Feel Sorry For Portsmouth Though. Three Unreliables:
Unreliable Spinnaker Tower
Unreliable Football Team
Unreliable Public Transport.
Sorry Portsmouth.

[GingerBlokey 30]

I really like Portsmouth and Im so happy to see this fantastic peice of architecture finnished. I think it is one of the best millennium projects.

[Bluthmania 7]

Its a fine piece of work, too bad no one thought to test it a bit more thoroughly so all these problems could have been bypassed or at least expected. Glad to see it open though!

[GaryReggae 80]

Sorry to bump this thread but I had the honour of goining up the Spinnaker Tower last night as we had a works do there! I must say it's very impressive and modern although a rainy November night is not the best time to go up it as the visibility was limited and all there really was to see were distant streetlights anyway. It would be a lot better in the daylight and I plan to revisit it next summer.

The glass floor panel on the lower viewing deck is strange although not as weird as I thought it would be - again, it was night and the floodlights reflecting off the sea spray on the underside of the panel spolied the sense of scale.

Of course, the glass lift wasn't working as usual - but the internal lift is very fast!

[ILL Tonkso 1,238]

Im yet to have the pleasure of going up the tower, but i will do soon. The thing stares at me over the harbour when im in my room.