Velocity Tower
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2023}}
{{update|date = January 2017}}
{{Infobox building
|name = Velocity Tower
|image = Velocity Tower April 2010 (2).JPG
|image_size = 240px
|caption = Velocity Tower at the current height of 66m in April 2010
|location = The Moor Gateway, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
|coordinates = {{coord|53.374164|-1.478037|display=inline,title}}
|status = Completed
|start_date = 2006
|completion_date = 2009-2010
|opening = December 2008
|building_type = Residential
|roof = {{convert|92|m|ft|abbr=on}} (Estimate)
|top_floor = {{convert|88|m|ft|abbr=on}} (Estimate)
|floor_count = 30 (22 currently erected)
|elevator_count =
|cost = Unknown to date
|floor_area =
|architect = AXIS Architecture
|structural_engineer=
|main_contractor =
|developer = Velocity Living
|owner = Velocity Tower
|management = Velocity Management
}}
Velocity Tower is a mixed use development next to the Inner Ring Road in Sheffield City Centre, South Yorkshire, England, overlooking Ecclesall Road. The build is a continuation of a previous design to be built by Cala, titled 'Eclipse'.
Cala Eclipse
The original plans for the site were for a single tower named Eclipse, the result of a project by Cala Developments and initially designed by Broadway Malyan. These designs called for a charcoal-grey cladded 22-story tower with a 12-story brickwork skin wing that was to provide 263 new apartments.
After successfully selling most of the apartments before construction began - Cala decided that the economic conditions were unfavourable and abandoned the scheme in 2005, causing concern among early investors by putting the land up for sale without a public announcement.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=412|title=Sun Sets On Cala Eclipse|date=2005-08-16|publisher=Skyscrapernews.com|access-date=2007-11-09}}
Velocity Tower
Image:Skyline view of Velocity Tower from the south.jpg
In 2007 it was eventually confirmed that Velocity Estates were to take over the project with some design changes from Sheffield-based architects AXIS Architecture.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=794|title=Velocity Aim For 30 Floor Sheffield Tower|date=2006-11-30|publisher=Skyscrapernews.com|access-date=2009-07-19}} The altered design included a high-quality glass cladding façade to replace the previously proposed brickwork skin. A taller ground floor was also introduced, and a rooftop wind turbine array was added to improve the building's green credentials.
Construction started in 2007 under the agreed planning permission of the previous Eclipse building while a further application was submitted to alter the appearance of the tower and meet the City Council's design standards.
An application for the tower to go up to 36 storeys was submitted on 6 March 2008, but this was ultimately rejected by Sheffield Council stating that a 33-36 storey tower "would unacceptably break the city's skyline in important distant views".{{Cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1071|title=The Crazy Saga Of Sheffields Velocity Continues|date=2007-08-21|publisher=Skyscrapernews.com|access-date=2009-07-19}}
A further revision to the plans was submitted limiting the building to a 30-storey tower and also lowering the west-facing wing of the building to 5 floors. To compensate for this reduction, however, the plans included the design of a second smaller tower at the far end of the wing, which would climb to 17 storeys. These plans were accepted by the council on 9 September 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1742|title=Axis Rejig Velocity Tower Again|date=2008-07-30|publisher=Skyscrapernews.com|access-date=2009-07-19}}
On 23 November 2008, the construction crane was removed from the Velocity Tower site and structural work was halted. The tower now stands at 22 storeys of the 30 storeys planned, with, as of August 2009, the second tower and wing an unfinished concrete frame of two storeys, and the grounds fenced off.
= Grand opening =
In December 2008, Velocity Tower - although unfinished - opened its doors to potential tenants.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1909|title=Velocity Tower To Welcome First Occupiers|date=2008-12-16|publisher=Skyscrapernews.com|access-date=2009-07-19}}
References
External links
- [http://www.velocityestates.co.uk Velocity Estates ]
- [http://www.axis-architecture.com AXIS Architecture]
{{SheffieldStructures}}