Nov 12, 20191 min read

The landmark of North West England is located in Portsmouth

Updated: Jul 28, 2020

General Design Information ℹ️

Height: 170 m (560 ft)
Construction date: 2001-2005
Cost: £35.6 million 🤑
Floor count: 4
Architect: HGP Greentree Allchurch Evans
Structural engineer: Scott Wilson Halcrow Yolles
Main contractor: Mowlem
Website: https://www.spinnakertower.co.uk

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Structure 🗼

The tower represents sails billowing in the wind, a design accomplished using two large, white, sweeping metal arcs, which give the tower its spinnaker sail design. The steelwork was fabricated by Butterley Engineering.

The height of the structure makes it one of the tallest structures in the UK outside London.

The design is similar to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, whose structure is a little less than twice as tall at 323 metres (1,060 ft).

The overall development project was over budget, with the tower costing £35.6 million alone. Taxpayers were never intended to fund the tower, but Portsmouth City Council eventually contributed £11.1 million towards construction.

The tower was originally called the Portsmouth Millennium Tower and was designed as a monument to commemorate the Millennium celebrations in 2000.