Riga Radio and TV Tower

Riga Radio and TV Tower
General information
Type Mixed-use
Location Riga, Latvia
Coordinates 56°55′26″N 24°08′13″E / 56.9240°N 24.1370°E / 56.9240; 24.1370Coordinates: 56°55′26″N 24°08′13″E / 56.9240°N 24.1370°E / 56.9240; 24.1370
Construction started 1979
Completed 1989
Height
Antenna spire 368 m (1,207 ft)
Roof 222 m (728 ft)
Technical details
Lifts/elevators 4
Design and construction
Architect
  • Kims Nikuradze[1][2]
  • Nikolajs Sergijevskis[2]
  • Viktors Savčenko[2]

The Riga Radio and TV Tower (Latvian: Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis) in Riga, Latvia is the tallest structure in the European Union. It was built between 1979 and 1989 with funding from the central government of the Soviet Union. Its highest point reaches 368 metres (1,207 ft),† which makes it the third tallest tower in Europe (after the Ostankino Tower at 540 metres (1,770 ft) and the Kiev TV Tower at 385 metres (1,263 ft)) and the 15th tallest self-supporting tower in the world.

Features

Aerial view of Zaķusala and the Daugava.

There was a restaurant, "Vēja Roze", at the 93-metre (305 ft) level, which has closed. There is a public observation platform just above it at 97 metres (318 ft), from which most of the city and surroundings and the Gulf of Riga can be seen.[3][4]

Construction

The design chosen for the tower was that of Georgian architect Kims Nikurdze.[1] Also credited are Nikolajs Sergijevskis and Viktors Savčenko.[2] Construction materials included dolomite from Saaremaa, Karelian granite, and ironwork that had been prefabricated in Chelyabinsk. The assembly was done by the St Petersburg North-western Ironwork Assembly Trust.[1]

The tower is built on an island called Zaķusala in the middle of the River Daugava, and the base of the tower is located about 7 metres (23 ft) above mean sea level. The tower is built to resist winds up to 44 metres per second (98 mph) without any noticeable vibration with the help of three 9.1-metric-ton (10-short-ton) dampers installed at the 198-metre (650 ft) level.[3] Though seismic activity is rare, the tower was designed to withstand a magnitude 7.5 earthquake.[3] The projected service life of the tower is 250 years.[1]

Bottom section

The support section of the tower rises the first 88 metres (289 ft), comprising the three pillars that give the tower it's unusual appearance, and a central building that contains offices and machine rooms. There are two high-speed sloping elevators, one in the north-east pillar and one in the south-west pillar, that ascend the bottom section in just 42 seconds. The third pillar contains a staircase.[5] It is one of only three "tall" towers in the world that has 3 pillars; the others are the Avala Tower in Belgrade and Žižkov Television Tower in Prague.

Middle section

The middle section, at 88–222 metres (289–728 ft), contains equipment and a central elevator and is enclosed by panels of COR-TEN, an aluminum-iron alloy.[5]

Top section

The top section, at 222–368 metres (728–1,207 ft), is a cylindrical structure which supports and contains the various antennas, and is topped by a flagpole. An elevator rises to the machine rooms at the 308-metre (1,010 ft) level, and stairs ascend another 44 metres (144 ft).[3][5]

Operations

The tower started broadcasting regularly in January 1986, though construction work continued until 1989.[6]

The following television channels are broadcast from the tower:[6]

The following radio stations broadcast from the tower:[6]

Additionally, broadcast and two-way communications services are provided for various organizations and government agencies.[6]

See also

Notes

^† Sources vary slightly as to the exact height: The official website shows 368 metres (1,207 ft);[1] Emporis claims the exact equivalent, 1,207.35 feet (368.00 m);[3] Structurae claims 368.5 metres (1,209 ft).[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "TV Tornis : Construction/design". www.tvtornis.lv. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Strautmanis, Jānis Krastiņš; Ivars (2002). Lielais Rīgas arhitektūras ceļvedis (in Latvian). Rīga: Puse. pp. 286, 371, 372. ISBN 9789984527611. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Riga TV Tower, Riga : Building 110997 : EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "TV Tornis : Excursions". www.tvtornis.lv. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "TV Tornis : Technical information". www.tvtornis.lv. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "TV Tornis : History". www.tvtornis.lv. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Riga Television Tower (Riga, 1986) : Structurae". structurae.net. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
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