User:Mark/St Martins Tower

Coordinates: 31°57′17.85″S 115°51′33.9″E / 31.9549583°S 115.859417°E / -31.9549583; 115.859417
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St Martins Tower
Map
General information
Coordinates31°57′17.85″S 115°51′33.9″E / 31.9549583°S 115.859417°E / -31.9549583; 115.859417
  • Used to be called City Centre Tower.[citation needed]
  • Designed by Ross Chisholm of Architects Cameron Chisholm & Nicol.[1]
  • net lettable area: 21,470 m2 (231,100 sq ft)[2]
  • site area approximately 3,735 m2 (40,200 sq ft)[2]
  • Had an AAPT sign installed on its top in 1998.[3]
  • In 1974 as the tower was being completed a fire broke out on its top floor.[4] -- check that the fire was actually in St Martins, not some nearby building
  • It was Perth's tallest building from 1977 to 1988.[5]
  • A refurbishment of the St Martins Centre complex (which includes St Martins Tower and a couple of other buildings) was announced in 2008. It would include an expansion of the St Martins Tower lobby, glass canopies and recladding of the surrounding buildings at street level to "unite" the buildings in the complex at ground level.[5]
  • The tower forms part of a complex of three buildings called "St Martins Centre".
  • The corner of St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street was home to the town house of Lionel Samson which was built in 1842. This building was used by the Weld Club from its founding to when it moved to its present site in 1892.[6]
    • The building was taken over in the late 1890s by the Commercial Bank of Australia.[6]
    • This historic house was demolished in 1974 to make way for the new bank tower as part of the City Centre development.[6]
    • Westpac signs were installed on this corner building in 1983.[6]
  • Also on the site were the Friendly Society building and the West Australian Club, both of which were demolished in 1974 to make way for the redevopment.[6]
  • By 1987 the building was known as St Martins Tower, after its owner St Martins Properties, which at that stage was owned by interests in Kuwait.[7]
  • The prefabricated concrete outer concrete cladding panels on the tower developed concrete cancer, necessitating repairs to ensure chunks of concrete did not fall to the ground below.[7]
    • The problem was resolved by overcladding the entire concrete surface with metal cladding.[7]
    • There was no problem with the structure of the building, merely the prefabricated outer facade panels which had been prepared onsite.[7]
    • The tower was taken off the market in early 1987 by its owners after it failed to sell, chiefly due to the costs associated with its recladding.[7]

Revolving restaurant[edit]

  • Hilite 33 opened in 1978.[8]
  • It completed one revolution every 90 minutes.[9]
  • The business and lease were sold in 2000 by its founder and owner of 22 years, Alain Kuhl, for just under $700,000.[9]

Gallery[edit]

  • A view of the tower above Barrack Street in 2004 when the tower still carried the "AAPT" sign.
    A view of the tower above Barrack Street in 2004 when the tower still carried the "AAPT" sign.
  • Bronze statues in the building's forecourt, representing the evolution of business people.
    Bronze statues in the building's forecourt, representing the evolution of business people.
  • View of the building's entrance, along with the bronze statues.
    View of the building's entrance, along with the bronze statues.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Deaths – 1999". Architecture Austrlia. 1999. Retrieved 19 November 2008. His office's notable later Perth buildings include the Floreat Forum shopping centre, Mineral House, The West Australian Club, the City Centre Tower and the Education Department building in East Perth
  2. ^ a b "St Martins Tower". St Martins Properties. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  3. ^ Miller, Nick (26 May 1998). "AAPT Sales Chief Urges Regulators To Ring Changes". The West Australian. p. 40. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Findlay, Len (6 July 2005). "Firefighter on the highest rung". The West Australian. p. 61. In 1974, as St Martin's Tower was being completed in Perth, Bill commandeered a building hoist to take equipment to the top level to fight a fire. As he ascended in the flimsy device, operating on generator power, he used his walkie-talkie to describe the view to those on the ground. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b Cordingley, Glenn (17 August 2008). "$20mil rebirth for city centre". Sunday Times. p. 22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e Seddon, George (1986). A city and its setting: images of Perth, Western Australia. Fremantle: Fremantle Arts Centre Press. pp. 195, 211 & 235. ISBN 0949206083. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e Staff writer (6 May 1987). "[Face lift to fix tower]". The West Australian. p. 74. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Phillips, Liam (1 January 2004). "Cream of desserts". The West Australian. When he was starting out, Nick was asked to provide ice-cream for the 1978 opening of the old Hilite 33 revolving restaurant, at the top of St Martin's Tower, one of Perth's tallest skyscrapers. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  9. ^ a b Pearce, Yonnene (25 October 2000). "Hilite 33 Turns Into Club Lounge For City High Flyers". The West Australian. p. 61. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

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