| Arts Tower | |
|---|---|
| Sheffield Arts Tower.png Arts Tower in 2010 |
|
| Record height | |
| Tallest in Sheffield from 1965 to 2010[I] | |
| Preceded by | Sheffield Town Hall |
| Surpassed by | St Pauls Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | University |
| Location | University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 1963 |
| Completed | 1965 |
| Opening | 1965 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 78 m (256 ft) |
| Top floor | 78 m (256 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 20 |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | University of Sheffield |
The Arts Tower is a building at 12 Bolsover Street in Sheffield, England belonging to the University of Sheffield and opened in 1966. English Heritage has called it "the most elegant university tower block in Britain of its period.[1] At 255 feet (78 m) tall it is the second tallest building in the city, after the 101 m, St Pauls Tower on Arundel Gate, which was topped out in 2009[2] It is also the tallest university building in the UK.[3]
Designed by architects Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners, construction of the tower started in 1961 and lasted four years. Contrary to popular belief, there is no documentary evidence to suggest that the design was directly inspired by the similar, but much larger, Seagram Building in New York City, similarly to the popularly believed, though unsubstantiated, theory regarding the Co-operative Insurance Tower or CIS Tower in Manchester, England, although the similarity of aesthetics between the three buildings is undeniable. When asked about the possible inspiration of Mies van der Rohe's buildings in America, GMW project architect Robert Smith explained instead that the form of the building came from the surrounding context.[4]
Entry to the building was originally made by a wide 'bridge' between fountains over a shallow pool area in front of the building. This pool was eventually drained and covered over when it was found that strong down drafts of wind hitting the building on gusty days caused the fountain to soak people entering and exiting the building. An alternative design for a Rotunda-style cylindrical building was thrown out when suitable curved furnishings were costed.
The building was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in June 1966;[5] it has 20 stories and a mezzanine level above ground. These house the Departments of Landscape, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Biblical Studies, and Architecture as well as the library administration. As its name suggests, the building originally housed all the University's arts departments, which had far fewer students in the 1960s. Noticeboards for long rehoused departments such as History and Social Science survive in the basement foyer area. There are also two floors below ground level that house nine lecture theatres. The building contains a cafe in the basement.[6] It has a student computer room on the 12th floor,[7] and a self-service language teaching centre on the second.[8] Circulation is through two ordinary lifts and a paternoster lift, at 38 cars the largest of the few surviving in the UK.[9]
A bridge at the mezzanine level links the tower to the university's main Library at Western Bank. This building was also designed by Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners—the two buildings are intended to be viewed together.[10] The Arts Tower and Library are Grade II* listed buildings.[11]
The buildings can be visited during office hours, although visitors may have to sign a register and show identification.[12]
In December 2007, the University announced plans for a major refurbishment of the Arts Tower. The refurbishment will see a major re-organisation of the building's interior, as well as a new façade, and will coincide with the move of the Modern Language departments to the former Jessop Hospital site. The building was vacated in April 2009, with refurbishment taking approximately two years to complete.[13] The building, due to be finished for the beginning of the 2011 academic year, will be used for teaching with the top nine floors for the architecture department.
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