Manchester’s first ‘real’ skyscraper looks like an average glass tower, but strong gusts of wind turn it into a ghostly musical instrument. For 12 years Beetham Tower was the tallest skyscraper in the city, spearheading the growth of Manchester’s high-rise skyline. Despite several accolades by the architectural world, the building has a number of structural flaws, one of which is responsible for the loud and frightening sounds that carry for several kilometres.
Skyscraper pioneer
At the turn of the 21st century, Manchester was hoping for a UNESCO listing because of its post-industrial landscape. The city saw many refurbishments of old factories, but over time new glass buildings also began to emerge. In 2006, the Beetham Tower, which dominates the city, rose to a height of 169 metres. This event derailed the city’s efforts in getting UNESCO to recognise Manchester’s unique post-industrial past. At least, that is what opponents of the building believe, because in fact the construction was part of the city’s regeneration plan.
Beetham Tower stood near old warehouses and railway sidings. The small townhouses next door were renovated and a lower modern building was added to the tall glass tower. The skyscraper consists of a narrow base and a four-metre-high projecting front. The protruding section ends in a glass attic adding 10 metres to the overall height of the skyscraper. A Hilton hotel is located on the lower floors and a bar is located on the twenty-third floor. The remaining floors are rented out as flats.
The soft ground and atmospheric factors forced the engineers to use a prestressed structure to protect against deformation. The seemingly simple glass walls also conceal a few interesting features. Aluminium panels were inserted between the curtain walls to protect against excessive sunlight. On the other sides, the building has similar solutions based mainly on louvres installed in the façade.
Wind instrument
All these intriguing engineering solutions languish in sight when the shrill whine of the glass structure enters your ears. The sound can be heard up to 3 km away from the skyscraper. Interestingly, the volume of the incongruous howling reaches up to 78 dB, making the sound difficult to ignore. It turns out that the glass structure on the roof is behind the noise.
Originally, the skyscraper was supposed to be taller, but due to the strong winds, the architects had to give up three storeys. A glass and steel attic was left on top, to visually complete the building. The problem is that the wind blowing at such a height acts on a ten-metre-high, solitary wall like a gust into the neck of a glass bottle. In essence, Beetham Tower is a huge wind instrument.
Engineers tried to soundproof the vibrating element, but in severe storms the howling can still be heard today. It is also worth mentioning that elements of the glass façade have fallen twice onto the street, as occasionally happens with curtain walls.
Although Beetham Tower is no longer the tallest building in Manchester, it still stands out for its infamous noise. On the other hand, it is the skyscraper that pioneered the construction of tall glass towers, making Manchester boast the second best high-rise skyline in the country. You can read about England’s other disliked buildings HERE and HERE.
Source: Manchester Evening News
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