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Sky Tower (Auckland)

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The Sky Tower is a telecommunications and observation tower in Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets within the city's CBD, it is 328 metres (1,076 ft) tall, as measured from ground level to the top of the mast,[4] making it the second tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, surpassed only by the Autograph Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia,[5] and the 28th tallest tower in the world. Since its completion in 1997, the Sky Tower has become an iconic landmark in Auckland's skyline, due to its height and design. It was the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere from 1996 to 2022.

Sky Tower
The tower within the SkyCity Auckland complex
Map
Record height
Tallest in the Southern Hemisphere from 1996 to 2022[I]
Preceded bySydney Tower
Surpassed byThamrin Nine
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeCommunications, observation, mixed use, tourism
LocationAuckland CBD, Auckland, New Zealand
AddressCorner Victoria and Federal Streets
Coordinates36°50′54.5″S 174°45′44.3″E / 36.848472°S 174.762306°E / -36.848472; 174.762306
Construction started1994
Completed1997
Opening3 August 1997; 27 years ago (1997-08-03)
CostNZ$85 million[1]
OwnerSkycity Entertainment Group
Height
Antenna spire328 m (1,076.1 ft)
Roof237 m (777.6 ft)
Top floor222 m (728.3 ft)
Observatory220 m (721.8 ft)
Technical details
Floor area5,500 m2 (59,202 sq ft)[1]
Lifts/elevators4
Design and construction
Architect(s)Craig Craig Moller Ltd.[2]
DeveloperHarrah's Entertainment[3]
Structural engineerBeca Group[2]
Main contractorFletcher Construction[2]
Website
www.skycityauckland.co.nz/attractions/sky-tower

The tower is part of the SkyCity Auckland casino complex, originally built in 1994–1997 for Harrah's Entertainment.[3] Several upper levels are accessible to the public, attracting an average of 1,150 visitors per day (over 415,000 per year).[6]

Public facilities

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The upper sections of the Sky Tower, illuminated at night

The Sky Tower has several upper levels that are accessible to the public:[7]

  • Level 50: Sky Bar
  • Level 51: Main Observation Deck
  • Level 52: Orbit 360° Dining
  • Level 53: The Sugar Club restaurant, SkyWalk and SkyJump
  • Level 60: Sky Deck

The upper portion of the tower contains two restaurants and a cafe; including New Zealand's only revolving restaurant, located 190 m (620 ft) from the ground, which turns 360 degrees every hour.[8] There is also a brasserie-style buffet located one floor above the main observatory level. It has three observation decks at different heights, each providing 360-degree views of the city. The main observation level at 186 m (610 ft) has 38 mm (1.5 in) thick glass sections of flooring giving a view straight to the ground.[9] The top observation deck labelled "Skydeck" sits just below the main antenna at 220 m (720 ft) and gives views of up to 82 km (51 mi) in the distance.[10]

The tower also features the "SkyJump", a 192-metre (630 ft)[11] jump from the observation deck, during which a jumper can reach up to 85 km/h (53 mph). The jump is guide-cable-controlled to prevent jumpers from colliding with the tower in case of wind gusts.[12] Climbs into the antenna mast portion (300 m or 980 ft heights) are also possible for tour groups,[11] as is a walk around the exterior.[13]

Construction

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A view from the base of the tower

Project history

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The tower was constructed as a part of the Skycity casino precinct. The Skycity Entertainment Group's initial brief for the project were that they required a tower that was both a high-quality tourist attraction, and a marketable telecommunications facility.[14] Fletcher Construction was the contracted builder for the project while engineering firm Beca Group provided the design management and coordination, structural, geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting and fire engineering services. Harrison Grierson provided surveying services.[15] It was designed by Gordon Moller of Craig Craig Moller Architects[2] and has received a New Zealand Institute of Architects National Award as well as regional awards.[16][17][18] The project architect was Les Dykstra.[19] Taking two years and nine months to construct,[20] the tower was opened on 3 August 1997.[21]

Facts and figures

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The tower is constructed of high-performance reinforced concrete.[14] Its 12-metre (39 ft) diameter shaft (containing four lifts and an emergency stairwell) is supported on eight "legs" based on 16 foundation piles drilled over 15 m (49 ft) deep into the local sandstone.[17][18] The main shaft was built using climbing formwork.[18]

The upper levels were constructed from composite materials, structural steel, precast concrete and reinforced concrete,[18] and the observation decks clad in aluminium with blue/green reflective glass. A structural steel framework supports the upper mast structure. During construction 15,000 cubic metres (20,000 cu yd) of concrete, 2,000 tonnes (2,200 short tons) of reinforcing steel, and 660 tonnes (730 short tons) of structural steel were used. The mast weighs over 170 tonnes (190 short tons).[18][22] It had to be lifted into place using a crane attached to the structure, as it would have been too heavy for a helicopter to lift. To then remove the crane, another crane had to be constructed attached to the upper part of the Sky Tower structure, which dismantled the big crane, and was in turn dismantled into pieces small enough to fit into the elevator.[18]

Safety

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The tower is designed to withstand wind in excess of 200 km/h (120 mph) and designed to sway up to 1 metre (39 in) in excessively high winds. As a safety precaution the Sky Tower's lifts have special technology installed to detect movement (such as swaying due to high wind) and will automatically slow down. If the building sway exceeds predetermined safety levels the lifts will return to the ground floor and remain there until the high winds and building sway have abated.[23]

The Sky Tower is built to withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake located within a 20-kilometre (12 mi) radius.[24] There are three fireproof rooms on levels 44, 45, and 46 to provide refuge in the event of an emergency, while the central service lift shaft and stairwells are also fire-safety rated.

Telecommunications

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The tower is also used for telecommunications and broadcasting with the Auckland Peering Exchange (APE) being located on Level 48.[25] The aerial at the top of the tower hosts the largest FM combiner in the world[9] which combines with 58 wireless microwave links located above the top restaurant to provide a number of services. These include television, wireless internet, RT, and weather measurement services.[9]

The tower is Auckland's primary FM radio transmitter, and is one of four infill terrestrial television transmitters in Auckland, serving areas not covered by the main transmitter at Waiatarua in the Waitākere Ranges. A total of twenty-three FM radio stations and six digital terrestrial television multiplexes broadcast from the tower.[26][27] Two VHF analogue television channels broadcasting from the tower were switched off in the early hours of 1 December 2013 as part of New Zealand's digital television transition.[28]

Transmission frequencies

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H = Horizontal V = Vertical

The following table contains television and radio frequencies currently operating from the Sky Tower:

Television broadcasting

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Television Station Freeview Owner Channel Frequency Band Power (kW)
TVNZ 1 1 TVNZ 28 530.0 MHz UHF 0.5
TVNZ 2 2
TVNZ Duke 6
Sky Open 15 Sky 30 546.0 MHz
Three 3 Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand 32 562.0 MHz
Bravo 4
Eden 8
Rush 14
HGTV 19
Whakaata Māori 5 New Zealand Government 38 610.0 MHz
Te Reo 10

Radio broadcasting

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Radio Station Owner Frequency Band Power (kW)
Mai FM MediaWorks New Zealand 88.6 MHz VHF 16 (8 kW H+8 kW V)
Newstalk ZB New Zealand Media and Entertainment 89.4 MHz 50
The Rock MediaWorks New Zealand 90.2 MHz
ZM Auckland New Zealand Media and Entertainment 91.0 MHz
More FM MediaWorks New Zealand 91.8 MHz
RNZ Concert Radio New Zealand 92.6 MHz
The Breeze MediaWorks New Zealand 93.4 MHz
The Sound 93.8 MHz 8 (4 kW H+4 kW V)
The Edge 94.2 MHz 50
95BFM Auckland University Students Association 95.0 MHz 8 (4 kW H+4 kW V)
Flava New Zealand Media and Entertainment 95.8 MHz 50
George FM MediaWorks New Zealand 96.6 MHz 8 (4 kW H+4 kW V)
The Hits New Zealand Media and Entertainment 97.4 MHz 50
Coast 98.2 MHz
Radio Hauraki 99.0 MHz
Life FM Rhema Media Incorporated 99.8 MHz
Magic MediaWorks New Zealand 100.6 MHz 50
RNZ National Radio New Zealand 101.4 MHz 16 (8 kW H+8 kW V)
NIU FM National Pacific Radio Trust 103.8 MHz
Planet FM Access Community Radio Incorporated 104.6 MHz
Gold New Zealand Media and Entertainment 105.4 MHz 50
Channel X MediaWorks New Zealand 106.2 MHz 20

Lighting

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The tower illuminated in Christmas colours. Various other lighting schemes and colours are also used.
 
The tower illuminated in gold to mark New Zealand's first gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics
 
The tower illuminated in purple on 6 May 2023 to mark the coronation of Charles III and Camilla
 
Sky Tower

SkyCity Auckland lights the Sky Tower to show support for a range of organisations and charities. SkyCity has a lighting policy and the public is invited to suggest additional occasions in line with this policy.[29] Common lighting events include:[30]

The tower is lit up for special occasions. Examples include New Zealand's 2021 vaccination campaign, with the tower illuminated in blue and white when 80% and 90% vaccination rates were achieved.[33] The tower was blue and yellow in early March 2022 in solidarity with Ukraine over the 2022 Russian invasion. After SkyCity initially refused requests from members of the public to lend support, Phil Goff as mayor of Auckland intervened and the Sky Tower was one of three Auckland landmarks that was lit up for three days (the others were the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Auckland War Memorial Museum).[34] The tower went blue to honour the death of Constable Matthew Hunt.[35] Also in March 2022, the tower was red celebrating the Auckland Arts Festival.[36]

Energy efficient lighting

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The top half of the Sky Tower is lit by energy efficient LED lighting which replaced the original metal halide floodlights in May 2009. The LEDs can produce millions of different colour combinations controlled by a DMX lighting controller. The original lights used 66 per cent more energy than the current LED system. The bottom half remained lit by metal halide lamps, until they too were upgraded to LED lighting in 2019.[37]

Energy conservation initiatives

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In an effort to promote power saving, SkyCity turned off the tower lighting in Winter 2008, retaining only the flashing red aviation lights. SkyCity is also minimising façade flood lighting across its complex. Simon Jamieson, general manager SkyCity Auckland Hotels Group, said: "Like every New Zealander, we are concerned about the country's electricity supply, and we believe it is our responsibility to make this move to assist with the power saving request."[38] The tower was reilluminated on 4 August in support of New Zealand athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics.[39]

 
Panorama as seen from Sky Deck, Sky Tower, Auckland

Events

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The Sky Tower is used in support of special charity events. The Leukemia and Blood Foundation of New Zealand organises annual fundraising stair climb challenges, notably the "Firefighters Sky Tower Stair Challenge" which sees firefighters from around New Zealand race up 1,108 steps (out of 1,267 total steps).[40] Climbing the Sky Tower stairs has been described as a "vertical marathon".[41]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b World Federation of Great Towers Archived 15 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 4 July 2009
  2. ^ a b c d Sky Tower at Structurae.com Archived 10 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 4 July 2009
  3. ^ a b In Auckland, Life Is Alfresco – The New York Times, 5 October 1997
  4. ^ Sky Tower Official page Archived 25 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine -
  5. ^ "Tower Tops Out in Jakarta Mixed-Use Complex". www.ctbuh.org. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Glass Elevators Take Visitors to Top of Sky Tower in New Zealand". Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Explore the Sky Tower". SkyCity. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  8. ^ Official Orbit 360 Dining page Archived 22 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 August 2014
  9. ^ a b c Sky Tower demonstration Archived 14 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine (Explore the Sky Tower)
  10. ^ Sky Tower facts page Archived 19 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 4 June 2009
  11. ^ a b Auckland: Don't Miss: Action in the outdoors Archived 23 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine (from the Tourism New Zealand website. Retrieved 2 December 2007)
  12. ^ SkyJump Archived 4 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine (from the official skyjump.co.nz website. Accessed 21 June 2008.)
  13. ^ (from the official skywalk.co.nz website. Accessed 27 May 2009.)
  14. ^ a b Turkington, Dale (2011). "Sky Tower". In La Roche, John (ed.). Evolving Auckland: The City's Engineering Heritage. Wily Publications. pp. 307–318. ISBN 9781927167038.
  15. ^ "Harrison Grierson". Archived from the original on 7 June 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  16. ^ Sky Tower Archived 22 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine (from the website of Craig Craig Moller, Sky Tower's architects)
  17. ^ a b Projects: Commercial: Sky Tower Archived 31 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (from the Fletcher Construction website. Retrieved 2 December 2007.)
  18. ^ a b c d e f Case Studies: Sky Tower Archived 3 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine (from the University of Auckland, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Retrieved 1 December 2007.)
  19. ^ [1] Archived 4 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Les Dykstra – Director of Architects-ldl.
  20. ^ "Did you know?". SkyCity Auckland. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Remember Auckland before the Sky Tower?". NZ Herald. 20 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  22. ^ Construction Facts Archived 19 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine (from the SkyCity Auckland website)
  23. ^ "Some homes still powerless after storm". The New Zealand Herald, Friday 10 November 2006.
  24. ^ "Did you know?". SKYCITY Auckland. SKYCITY. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  25. ^ What is the APE? Archived 27 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 5 June 2009
  26. ^ "Auckland/Skytower FM transmitter info - fmscan.org". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  27. ^ "New Zealand television transmission stations in operation as of 31 March 2008 – North Island" (PDF). Kordia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  28. ^ "When is my area going digital? – Going Digital". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  29. ^ "Lighting Policy". SkyCity. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Lighting". SkyCity. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  31. ^ "What is Red Nose Day?". Cure Kids. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  32. ^ "Lebanon's Beirut explosion: Auckland's Sky Tower turns lights off". Stuff. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Sky Tower lights up to celebrate vaccine milestone". The New Zealand Herald. 13 November 2021. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  34. ^ "Auckland Sky Tower, Harbour Bridge and museum to light up for Ukraine". Stuff. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  35. ^ Newshub (20 June 2020). "Sky Tower bright blue to honour fallen police officer Matthew Hunt". Newshub. Auckland. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Sky Tower Lights For Auckland Arts Festival" (Press release). Auckland: SkyCity. Scoop. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  37. ^ "Sky Tower Lighting". Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  38. ^ SKYCITY Auckland switches off the Sky Tower Archived 13 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine (from a SkyCity Entertainment Group press release. 10 June 2008. Accessed 14 September 2008.)
  39. ^ Sky Tower Relights Auckland Skyline Archived 13 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine (from a Sky Entertainment Group press release. 4 August 2008. Accessed 14 September 2008.)
  40. ^ "Key Information". firefightersclimb.org.nz. Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand. Archived from the original on 5 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  41. ^ "Challenge Accepted- Swissôtel Vertical Marathon 2017". 18 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
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