Project of the week

WHAT: A seafront tower at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth intended to be built in time for the start of the Millennium. Reminiscent of a sail, perhaps the sail of a beleaguered boat pulling into shore extremely late, the 170m tower has three viewing decks, at heights of 100m, 105m and 110m.

WHEN: The project finished this week, five years behind schedule.

VALUE: £35.5m, £10m over budget.

WHO: Client: Portsmouth City Council, QS: Currie & Brown, project manager: David Greenhalgh seconded to the client from Mott MacDonald, contractor: Mowlem.

DETAILS: Spinnaker Tower’s opening on Tuesday was marred by yet another mishap. The council’s project manager David Greenhalgh got trapped in the building’s lift for over an hour. The external glass lift became stuck around 100ft from the ground. He was released by a crack team of abseiling engineers.

The tower missed its latest handover date, 6 October, due to lift issues, which were thought to have been resolved. Earlier problems faced by the project included a rumour in the local press that it had a “massive crack”, which was denied by the project team, and critical report on the project.

There have also been security problems, with a fathers’ rights campaigner and a base-jumper both successfully targeting the building.

CONTRACTOR’S VIEW: “We are proud to have been involved in such a stunning landmark project” – Mowlem Engineering’s Managing Director, Norman Davies. We believe you.

If you would like to see your project in Project of the Week, please send details to qsnews@cmpinformation.com