Status Complete Opening 1962 Construction started 1961 | Completed 1962 Height 232 m Opened 1962 | |
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Alternative names Brixton Tower
Albert Hertzog Tower Type Cantilever concrete-shafted television tower Location Brixton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Similar Hillbrow Tower, Carlton Centre, Ponte City Apartments, Nelson Mandela Bridge, 11 Diagonal Street | ||
Sentech tower
Sentech Tower, also known as and originally called the Brixton Tower or Albert Hertzog Tower, respectively, is a 237-metre-high (778 ft) concrete television tower in the Brixton suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a well-known and easily identifiable landmark in the city, alongside its "architectural cousin", the Hillbrow Tower. Although the tower is currently used for television transmission, it was originally built for FM radio transmitters; public television would not commence for more than a decade after the tower's completion.
Contents
- Sentech tower
- Map of Sentech Tower Jan Hofmeyer Johannesburg 2092 South Africa
- History
- Construction and structure
- Geography
- References
Map of Sentech Tower, Jan Hofmeyer, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa
Sentech tower
History
The Sentech Tower's construction commenced in 1961, completing its year-long construction in 1962. The tower was designed by Ove, Arup and Partners and built by Christiani and Nielsen SA. Upon completion, the Sentech Tower was the tallest man-made structure in Africa in its time until it was overtaken by the Hillbrow Tower.
The first transmission took place 22 December 1961. Presently Sentech broadcasts 18 FM programs and 7 TV stations. Backup power to the tower is 1MW using two 500 kVa Volvo Generators. Towards 2001, naming rights for the tower were sold to Sentech, the TV and radio signal distributor in South Africa that is owned by the South African Government. Up until 1982, an observation deck affording panoramic views of the city was open to the public, but was closed due to rising fears of insurgent fighting by South African anti-Apartheid activists. The tower viewing deck has not re-opened to the public since then.
Construction and structure
In architectural terms, the Sentech Tower is a vertical cantilever structure, the shaft of which is made of reinforced concrete. On windy days, the tower has been known to lean up to 2 m (6.6 ft), as measured from its uppermost mast. In addition, the tower was built to withstand winds of 186 km/h (116 mph) and gusts of up to 200 km/h (120 mph). The tower's foundation is circular, possessing a diameter of 26 m (85 ft), and it is 6 m (20 ft) wide and 2 m (6.6 ft) deep.
The tower's full height is 237 m (778 ft), although some sources state that it has a lesser height of 234 m (768 ft).
Geography
The Sentech Tower is situated in the suburb of Brixton, in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.