Aspire Tower
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| Information | |
|---|---|
| Use | Mixed |
| Structural height | 318 m |
| Floors | N/A |
| Structure Completion | November 2006 |
| Full Completion | November 2007 |
The Aspire Tower is a 318 meter (1,050 ft) structure located in the Sports City complex in Doha, Qatar. Designed by architect Hadi Simaan, [1] and AREP [2] and engineer Ove Arup and Partners, Aspire Tower served as the focal point for the 15th Asian Games hosted by Qatar in December 2006. The Aspire Tower is currently the tallest structure in Doha, but it is expected to be surpassed by the Dubai Towers and the Barwa Tower. The tower has also been known as Khalifa Sports Tower or Doha Olympic Tower.
The tower was a landmark of the 2006 Asian Games due to its size and proximity to the main venue, the Khalifa International Stadium. The tower housed the Olympic Flame during the games and holds the record for tallest ever Olympic Flame and highest positioning of the Flame, which was visible throughout Doha for the duration of the games. The design employs a concrete core which acts as the primary support. The remainder of the building is a steel structure that cantilevers out from the concrete core. The exterior of the building is covered in a steel mesh which, during the Asian Games, was festively illuminated by vibrant LED lights.
The designer, Mr. Simaan, has described the structure as "a celebration of earth and sky" adding that, "the structural steel struts that brace the structure back to the core also act as visual forces which create energy radiating from the center in a centrifugal rise." One of the most interesting features of the tower is the broadcast of videos which was carried out around an 8 meter section of the tower; this was done through the use of Color Kinetics, Inc.'s Chromasic technology.
While the exterior of the tower is ready, the interior is expected to be fully completed by November 2007. Upon its completion, Aspire Tower will include a five-star hotel with ballroom/banqueting suite, conference/business center, a lower-level restaurant, gymnasium, franchise spaces, salons, a sports museum, a four-story Presidential suite, and at the buildings' top, a restaurant, bar and observation deck providing panoramic views of Doha. It will also feature a swimming pool cantilevered 80 meters above ground.
In late 2007, the Aspire Tower was completed at a final cost of 133,395,000 EUR (173,500,510 USD).
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