Sky Tower (Auckland)


The Sky Tower is a telecommunications and observation tower in Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets within the city's CBD, it is tall, as measured from ground level to the top of the mast, making it the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere and the 27th tallest tower in the world. It has become an iconic landmark in Auckland's skyline due to its height and unique design.
The tower is part of the SkyCity Auckland casino complex, originally built in 1994–1997 for Harrah's Entertainment. Several upper levels are accessible to the public, attracting an average of 1,150 visitors per day.

Public facilities

The Sky Tower has several upper levels that are accessible to the public:
The upper portion of the tower contains two restaurants and a cafe—including New Zealand's only revolving restaurant, located from the ground, which turns 360 degrees every hour. There is also a brasserie-style buffet located one floor above the main observatory level. It has three observation decks at different heights, each providing 360-degree views of the city. The main observation level at has thick glass sections of flooring giving a view straight to the ground. The top observation deck labeled "Skydeck" sits just below the main antenna at and gives views of up to in the distance.
The tower also features the "SkyJump", a jump from the observation deck, during which a jumper can reach up to. The jump is guide-cable-controlled to prevent jumpers from colliding with the tower in case of wind gusts. Climbs into the antenna mast portion are also possible for tour groups, as is a walk around the exterior.

Telecommunications

The tower is also used for telecommunications and broadcasting with the Auckland Peering Exchange being located on Level 48. The aerial at the top of the tower hosts the largest FM combiner in the world which combines with 58 wireless microwave links located above the top restaurant to provide a number of services. These include television, wireless internet, RT, and weather measurement services.
The tower is Auckland's primary FM radio transmitter, and is one of four infill terrestrial television transmitters in Auckland, serving areas not covered by the main transmitter at Waiatarua in the Waitākere Ranges. A total of twenty-three FM radio stations and six digital terrestrial television multiplexes broadcast from the tower. Two VHF analogue television channels broadcasting from the tower were switched off in the early hours of Sunday 1 December 2013 as part of New Zealand's digital television transition.

Transmission frequencies

H = Horizontal V = Vertical
The following table contains television and radio frequencies currently operating from the Sky Tower:
Television StationTransmit ChannelTransmit FrequencyBandPower
TVNZ digital28530.0 MHzUHF0.5
Sky digital30546.0 MHzUHF0.5
MediaWorks digital32562.0 MHzUHF0.5
World TV digital34578.0 MHzUHF0.5
Kordia digital A36594.0 MHzUHF0.5
Radio StationTransmit ChannelTransmit FrequencyBandPower
Mai FM88.6 MHzVHF16
Newstalk ZB89.4 MHzVHF50
The Rock90.2 MHzVHF50
ZM91.0 MHzVHF50
More FM91.8 MHzVHF50
Radio New Zealand Concert92.6 MHzVHF50
The Breeze93.4 MHzVHF50
The Sound93.8 MHzVHF8
The Edge94.2 MHzVHF50
bFM95.0 MHzVHF12.5
Flava95.8 MHzVHF50
George FM96.6 MHzVHF8
The Hits97.4 MHzVHF50
Mix 98.298.2 MHzVHF50
Radio Hauraki99.0 MHzVHF50
Life FM99.8 MHzVHF50
Radio Live100.6 MHzVHF50
RNZ National101.4 MHzVHF16
Niu FM103.8 MHzVHF16
Planet FM104.6 MHzVHF16
Coast105.4 MHzVHF50
Humm FM106.2 MHzVHF16

Construction

Project history

was the contracted builder for the project while engineering firm Beca Group provided the design management and coordination, structural, geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting and fire engineering services. Harrison Grierson provided surveying services. It was designed by Gordon Moller of Craig Craig Moller architects and has received a New Zealand Institute of Architects National Award as well as regional awards. The Project Architect was Les Dykstra.
Taking two years and nine months to construct, the tower was opened on 3 August 1997.

Facts and figures

The tower is constructed of high-performance reinforced concrete. Its diameter shaft is supported on eight "legs" based on 16 foundation piles drilled over deep into the local sandstone. The main shaft was built using climbing formwork.
The upper levels were constructed from composite materials, structural steel, precast concrete and reinforced concrete, and the observation decks clad in aluminium with blue/green reflective glass. A structural steel framework supports the upper mast structure. During construction of concrete, of reinforcing steel, and of structural steel were used. The mast weighs over. It had to be lifted into place using a crane attached to the structure, as it would have been too heavy for a helicopter to lift. To then remove the crane, another crane had to be constructed attached to the upper part of the Sky Tower structure, which dismantled the big crane, and was in turn dismantled into pieces small enough to fit into the elevator.

Safety

The tower is designed to withstand wind in excess of and designed to sway up to in excessively high winds. As a safety precaution the Sky Tower's lifts have special technology installed to detect movement and will automatically slow down. If the building sway exceeds predetermined safety levels the lifts will return to the ground floor and remain there until the high winds and building sway have abated.
The Sky Tower is built to withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake located within a radius. There are three fireproof rooms on levels 44, 45, and 46 to provide refuge in the event of an emergency, while the central service lift shaft and stairwells are also fire-safety rated.

Lighting

SkyCity Auckland lights the Sky Tower to show support for a range of organisations and charities. Common lighting events include:
The top half of the Sky Tower is lit by energy efficient LED lighting which replaced the original metal halide floodlights in May 2009. The LEDs can produce millions of different colour combinations controlled by a DMX lighting controller. The original lights used 66 per cent more energy than the current LED system. The bottom half is lit by metal halide lamps.
The lighting on Sky Towner was upgraded in 2019 to LED lighting.https://skycityauckland.co.nz/sky-tower/lighting/

Energy conservation initiatives

During the winter months, electricity consumption in New Zealand increases dramatically. As much of the power reserve in the country depends on the water level of the hydro-lakes, various power-saving schemes are introduced to prevent blackouts. In an effort to promote power saving, SkyCity turned off the tower lighting in Winter 2008, retaining only the flashing red aviation lights. SkyCity is also minimising façade flood lighting across its complex. Simon Jamieson, General Manager SKYCITY Auckland Hotels Group, said: "Like every New Zealander, we are concerned about the country's electricity supply, and we believe it is our responsibility to make this move to assist with the power saving request." The tower was reilluminated on 4 August in support of New Zealand athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics.
The SkyTower also use wall lights for different events, for example, they had a LED Santa on the 2007 Christmas.

Events

The Sky Tower is used in support of special charity events. The Leukemia and Blood Foundation of New Zealand organises annual fundraising stair climb challenges, notably the "Firefighters Sky Tower Stair Challenge" which sees firefighters from around New Zealand race up 1,108 steps. Climbing the Sky Tower stairs has been described as a "vertical marathon".
The Sky Tower is also the venue of the annual "Tower de Force" competition. It includes a climb up 1,226 steps, and various other military skills tests that change yearly. Participants include the RNZAF, RNZN, New Zealand Army, New Zealand Defence Force veterans, New Zealand Police and, more recently, units from the New Zealand Cadet Forces. The competition is used to raise funds for numerous charities, including in 2019 Mike King's The Key to Life Charitable Trust.