Sentech Tower

Sentech Tower

Sentech Tower in the suburb of Brixton, in the city of Johannesburg, in the province of Gauteng, South Africa.
Location within South Africa
Alternative names Brixton Tower
Albert Hertzog Tower
General information
Status Complete
Type Cantilever concrete-shafted television tower
Location Brixton, Johannesburg, Gauteng,  South Africa
Coordinates 26°11′33″S 28°00′24″E / 26.19250°S 28.00667°ECoordinates: 26°11′33″S 28°00′24″E / 26.19250°S 28.00667°E
Construction started 1961
Completed 1962
Opening 1962
Height
Height 237 m (778 ft)
Antenna spire 237 m (778 ft)
Design and construction
Architect Ove, Arup and Partners
Main contractor Christiani and Nielsen SA
References
[1][2][3][4][5]

Sentech Tower, also known as and originally called the Brixton Tower or Albert Hertzog Tower,[3] respectively, is a 237-metre-high (778 ft) concrete television tower in the Brixton suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a well-known and easily identifiable landmark in the city, alongside its "architectural cousin", the Hillbrow Tower.[1][2][3][4][5]

History

The Sentech Tower's construction commenced in 1961, completing its year-long construction in 1962. The tower was designed by Ove, Arup and Partners and built by Christiani and Nielsen SA. Upon completion, the Sentech Tower was the tallest man-made structure in the whole of Africa in its time until it was eventually overtaken by the Hillbrow Tower.[2][3][5]

The first transmission took place 22 December 1961. Presently Sentech broadcast 18 FM programs and 7 TV stations. Backup power to the tower is 1MW using two 500 kVa Volvo Generators. Towards 2001, naming rights for the tower were sold to Sentech, the TV and radio signal distributor in South Africa that is owned by the South African Government. Up until 1982, an observation deck affording panoramic views of the city was open to the public, but was closed due to rising fears of insurgent fighting by South African anti-Apartheid activists. The tower viewing deck has not re-opened to the public since then.[1][2][3][4][5]

Construction and structure

In architectural terms, the Sentech Tower is a vertical cantilever structure, the shaft of which is made of reinforced concrete. On windy days, the tower has been known to lean up to 2 m (6.6 ft), as measured from its uppermost mast. In addition, the tower was built to withstand winds of 186 km/h (116 mph) and gusts of up to 200 km/h (120 mph). The tower's foundation is circular, possessing a diameter of 26 m (85 ft), and it is 6 m (20 ft) wide and 2 m (6.6 ft) deep.[1][2][3]

The tower's full height 237 m (778 ft), although some sources state that it has a lesser height of 234 m (768 ft).[1][2][3]

Geography

The Sentech Tower is situated in the suburb of Brixton, which in turn, lies in the city of Johannesburg, in the province of Gauteng, in the Republic of South Africa.[1][2][3][4]

Gallery

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Sentech Tower (Johannesburg, 1962) | Structurae". En.structurae.de. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Jones, Rodney. "Johannesburg Landmarks". Amethyst.co.za. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Sentech Tower | Buildings". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Sentech Tower - South Africa :: Plak.co". Plak.co.za. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Heinle & Leonhardt, Erwin & Fritz (1997). Türme aller Zeiten - aller Kulturen, Third Edition. Stuttgart, Germany: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. p. 343. ISBN 3421029318.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Radio towers in Johannesburg.