Rialto Towers

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Rialto Towers
Information
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Status	Complete
Constructed	1982-1986
Use	office
Height
Roof	251 m (824 ft)
Technical Details
Floor count	63 (plus 3 underground)
Floor area	84,000 m² (904,000 ft²)
Companies
Architect	Gerard de Preu and Partners Perrott Lyon Mathieson
Contractor	Grollo Australia

Rialto Towers (often The Rialto) is the second-tallest reinforced concrete building and the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere, when measured to its roof. (Several other skyscrapers in Australia are taller if their spires are included, as are some other structures such as communications masts and observation towers). It is at 525 Collins Street, in the western central business district of Melbourne, Australia.

[edit] Construction

Designed by William Pitt, the 1889 Rialto Building is situated next to Rialto Towers and prevented its development until the 1980s.

The site of the Rialto Towers was vacant since the 1940s, when it was owned by the National Mutual Life Association. Located adjacent to the Rialto Building and the Winfield Building, both historic buildings dating from the late 19th century, little progress was made until 1980 when the site was acquired by Grollo Australia.^[1]

Designed by architects Gerard de Preu and Partners in association with Perrott Lyon Mathieson, the building was built between 1982 and 1986, opening in October 1986, and takes its name from the much older Rialto Building next door. The massive glass façade, its central feature, changes colour during the day, ranging from a trademark dark blue to a brilliant gold during sunset.

It is 251 m (824 ft) high, with 63 floors and 3 basement floors. It comprises two conjoined towers, the shorter North Tower being 185 m high with 43 floors. In total, there are 84,000 m² of office space.

Early tenants moved into the lower floors while the upper floors were still under construction in 1984.

The Melbourne Observation Deck opened to the public on July 19, 1994 and is on the 55th floor of the South Tower, at 234 m. Views of up to 60 km can be had on a clear day. It is serviced by two express passenger lifts.

There are 1,450 steps to the top of the building, which are the setting for a yearly Run Up race.

[edit] Relationship to other towers

It is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, and was inaugurated on October 15, 1985.

It yielded its title as the tallest building in Australia on November 9, 2004, when the lift core of Eureka Tower, also in Melbourne, surpassed its height.

[edit] Photos

View from the Rialto Observation Deck looking east over the Melbourne CBD

The Rialto Towers viewed over the Yarra River, from Crown Casino.

The Rialto Towers amongst other skyscrapers in the western part of the Melbourne CBD

[edit] References

1. ^ Building Construction (Building Profile → Features → Construction). Retrieved on 2007-01-17.

[edit] External links

• Rialto Towers
• Melbourne Observation Deck
• Rialto Towers at the World Federation of Great Towers
• Walking Melbourne profile
• Rialto Run Up

Coordinates: 37°49′08″S, 144°57′30″E