U2 Tower
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The U2 Tower in Dublin will be the tallest building on the Island of Ireland when it is finished. It was decided to hold a competition for the design of the proposed tower. The design proposed by Irish architects Burdon Dunne/Craig Henry (now BCDH Architects) was selected as the winner, and was announced as such by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) in late 2003. Situated at the junction of Britain Quay and Sir John Rogerson's Quay along the south side of the capitals River Liffey and within the Dublin Docklands redevelopment area, this striking 35-story tower will rise some 130m (an increase from the original 60m plan) above the River Liffey. The building comprises 32 floors of luxury two and three bedroom apartments and the new recording studios of the rock band U2 over the upper two floors. Parking will be provided in a two-storey basement. It is due for completion in 2008.
The dramatic twisting geometry of the tower poses a significant structural engineering challenge, resolved using a column structure of inclined columns following the twist of the building and the stiff circular core for torsional stability. Square 26.6m x 26.6m floor plates twist by an equal amount per storey about the circular core, housing lifts and services risers as well as a dedicated lift to speed U2 to their studio.
