Arts Tower facts for kids
- For the skyscraper in Panama City, see Arts Tower (Panama City)
Quick facts for kids Arts Tower |
|
|---|---|
Arts Tower in 2013
|
|
| Record height | |
| Tallest in Sheffield from 1965 to 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Sheffield Town Hall |
| Surpassed by | St Pauls Tower |
| General information | |
| Type | University |
| Location | University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 53°22′58″N 1°29′14″W / 53.382738°N 1.487289°W |
| Construction started | 1963 |
| Completed | 1965 |
| Opening | 1965 |
| Renovated | 2009-11 |
| Owner | University of Sheffield |
| Height | |
| Roof | 78 m (256 ft) |
| Top floor | 78 m (256 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 20 |
The Arts Tower is a famous building located at 12 Bolsover Street in Sheffield, England. It belongs to the University of Sheffield and first opened its doors in 1966. An expert from English Heritage once called it "the most elegant university tower block in Britain of its period."
Standing at 255 feet (78 meters) tall, the Arts Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Sheffield. It is the second tallest, after the 331-foot (101-meter) St Paul's Tower. The Arts Tower was built by Mitchell Construction, a British engineering company. Old photos from its construction in 1964 show how different working conditions were back then.
Contents
The Arts Tower: A Sheffield Landmark
The Arts Tower is a key part of the University of Sheffield campus. It's known for its unique design and has been a landmark in the city for many years.
Design and Special Features
The building was designed by architects Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners. Construction began in 1961 and took four years to complete. While some people think its design was inspired by buildings like the Seagram Building in New York, the architects said its shape came from the area around it.
Originally, you entered the building by walking over a wide 'bridge' above a shallow pool with fountains. However, strong winds hitting the building would often splash water from the fountains onto people. Because of this, the pool was later drained and covered up.
Inside the Arts Tower, there are two regular lifts and a special type of lift called a paternoster lift. This paternoster lift has 38 separate cars, making it the largest of the few remaining ones in the United Kingdom. A paternoster lift is like a continuous chain of open compartments that slowly move up and down without stopping. You step on and off while it's moving.
A bridge connects the Arts Tower to the Western Bank Library at the mezzanine level. Both buildings were designed by the same architects and were meant to be seen as a pair. The Arts Tower and the Library are both special buildings, listed as Grade II* listed buildings because of their historical and architectural importance. You can usually visit these buildings during office hours, but you might need to sign in.
What's Inside the Tower?
The Arts Tower was officially opened in June 1966 by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. It has 20 floors above ground, plus a mezzanine level. A mezzanine is an extra floor between two main floors.
When it first opened, the building housed many university departments, including Landscape, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Biblical Studies, and Architecture. Back in the 1960s, there were fewer students, so the tower could fit all 18 of the university's arts departments. You can still find old noticeboards in the basement from departments that have since moved.
The Arts Tower also has two floors below ground. These floors contain nine lecture theatres, which are large rooms for classes. There's also a cafe in the basement where students can grab a bite to eat. On the 10th floor, students can use a computer room, and on the second floor, there's a language teaching centre for learning new languages.
Modern Updates and Changes
In December 2007, the University of Sheffield announced big plans to update the Arts Tower. This refurbishment involved a major redesign of the building's inside. It also included adding a new outer layer, or façade, to the building.
The renovation work began after the building was emptied in April 2009. It took about two years to finish. The updated Arts Tower was ready for the start of the 2011-12 school year. Today, the building is still used for teaching. The top nine floors are now home to the University's School of Architecture and the Departments of Landscape.
Images for kids
-
Arts Tower in 2013
-
Paternoster lift
