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EXPRESS LIFT TOWER

EXPRESS LIFT TOWER, TOWER SQUARE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1031518
Date first listed:: 30-Oct-1997
List Entry Name:: EXPRESS LIFT TOWER
Statutory Address:: EXPRESS LIFT TOWER, TOWER SQUARE

User submitted image — Uploaded by Stephen Miles This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Date:: 2005-07-19
Reference:: IOE01/14549/01
Rights:: © Mr Roger Ashley. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1031518
Date first listed:: 30-Oct-1997
List Entry Name:: EXPRESS LIFT TOWER
Statutory Address 1:: EXPRESS LIFT TOWER, TOWER SQUARE

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: EXPRESS LIFT TOWER, TOWER SQUARE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: West Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Northampton
National Grid Reference:: SP7371160583

Details

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 24/11/2011

SP 76 SW 725/15/10021

NORTHAMPTON TOWER SQUARE Express Lift Tower (Formerly listed under Weedon Road) II

Lift testing tower. Commissioned 1978, built 1980-2 by Stimpson and Walton for the Express Lift Company Limited; Michael Barclay Partnership engineers. Reinforced concrete, the lower 90m constructed with a separate outer skin formed by continuous slip pour (in 3 weeks). Internal shaft walls and upper parts jump formed concrete. Concrete raft foundations. 127m in height, tapering from 14.6m at the bottom to 8.4m at the top, circular to reduced wind resistance with piercing at the top to further lower this. Inside are 3 rectilinear shafts arranged on three sides of a square. The high speed lift shaft runs the full height of the tower and determined its height, and is for testing lifts at speeds of up to 7 metres per second and is the shaft where faults are most regl11arly simulated. The tallest shaft contains a permanent service lift and gives access to a laboratory above the fast lift. The third and lowest shaft contains shafts (one above the other) for testing hydraulic lifts, medium speed lifts, and has 2 training shafts. There are further engineers' rooms at the base of the tower, one used as an exhibition room, and a rooftop observation room. There are two staircases, one the full height of the building. A smaller space at the base of the tower is used by the British Standards Agency for its own independent testing; its presence is the result of partial government funding for the tower. Both exterior and interior simply finished. The upper part of the tower has a distinctive jagged shape with pierced openings and bracings to reduce wind resistance. Glazed observation room at top. Inside there is a contrast in finishes between the smooth outer skin and more textured jump formed surfaces. Included as a unique structure. This is the only lift testing tower in Britain and one of only two in Europe. There is a small (60m) tower in France. The building is important, too, as a demonstration of the importance of the lift technology to modern tall building construction. It is also a significant local landmark.

Listing NGR: SP7371160583

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 468918
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.