West Tower

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For the building in Guangzhou, China, see Guangzhou West Tower.
West Tower
Westtowerlpool.jpg
General information
Type Mixed
Location Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
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Construction started 2005
Completed 2007
Cost £35,000,000
Height
Roof 140 metres (459 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 40
Lifts/elevators 2
Design and construction
Architect Aedas
Developer Beetham
Main contractor Carillion
References
[1][2]

West Tower is a 40-storey tall skyscraper in Liverpool, England. The building was the second tower to be built by Carillion[3] in Liverpool for property developers Beetham, who now use the building as their headquarters.[4]

Description

With a spire height of 140 metres (459 ft) and 40 floors, West Tower is Liverpool’s tallest building, the joint 21st tallest in the United Kingdom (third tallest outside London) and the joint 118th tallest in the European Union. The building commands views across the city, over the Mersey to the Wirral and as far as Blackpool on a clear day. The first five floors are the new headquarters for the Beetham Organization and the remaining floors, apart from the 34th, have been divided into luxury apartments and penthouses.

However, unlike St. John's Beacon, West Tower has no antennas on the roof. Therefore, when considering height excluding antennas, West Tower is the highest building in Liverpool.

The five floors of Beetham’s offices are set back between concrete columns and are fully glazed to provide an "animated façade"[citation needed] at street level. A glazed lift and stair serving the office are accommodated between raking fins with views to the river.

The 127 apartments are clad in a fully glazed perimeter curtain wall of random clear and opaque panels and are orientated to provide views of both the city and river. The upper penthouse floors are tiered back to incorporate external terraces behind glazed balustrade screens.

The 34th floor is home to Liverpool's highest restaurant, Panoramic. This floor is completely clad in a clear glass perimeter offering diners views of the city of Liverpool and further afield.

Awards

At the 4th Liverpool Daily Post Regional Property Awards[5] in association with RBS, Beetham West Tower won Aedas the best Mixed Use Development prize. This prize was awarded for best use of land which would normally have stood barren; creation of an iconic building; and best use of limited space.

Administration

In February 2011, the West Tower went into administration after the parent companies were hit by falling property prices.[6] Out of the 123 apartments, 106 had been purchased as buy to let investments, while 17 were owner-occupied or unsold.[7]

Gallery

  • West Tower viewed from Seacombe

  • West Tower viewed from ground level

  • West Tower viewed from ground level

  • West Tower under construction in May, 2007

  • West Tower at night

  • The 34th floor restaurant 'Panoramic'

  • West Tower along with the Post & Echo Building

  • West Tower within the Commercial District

References

  1. ↑ West Tower at Emporis
  2. ↑ West Tower at SkyscraperPage
  3. ↑ Carillion Building news
  4. ↑ scyscrapernews.com building information
  5. ↑ Regional Property Awards 2008
  6. ↑ Liverpool's West Tower goes into administration - Liverpool Daily Post, 4 Feb 2011
  7. ↑ Liverpool's tallest building the West Tower placed into administration - Liverpool Daily Post, 3 Feb 2011

External links

Records
Preceded by Tallest Building in Liverpool
2008 – present		 Incumbent
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