National Lift Tower Transformed for Olympics

National-Lift-Tower-Transformed-for-Olympics
The National Lift Tower

Transformations for the opening of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The Northampton Lighthouse, also known as the National Lift Tower, in Northampton, U.K., signaled 2,012 hr. to go before the official opening of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which began July 27. Laser light art was installed at the tower by British artist Jo Fairfax and the FLOW team, an outdoor visual-arts program. On May 4-5, the National Lift Tower transformed into its local namesake, the Northampton Lighthouse, when two 20-W laser beams projected simultaneously for 15-30 s. on a North/South axis, then switched to an East/West axis. In addition, high-powered LED lighting with changing colors was projected up the sides of the tower.

The 127-m-tall National Lift Tower is one of only two lift testing towers in Europe and was designed by architect Maurice Walton and built by the Express Lift Co. in Northampton. In November, the National Lift Tower will commemorate 30 years since its official opening by Queen Elizabeth II on November 12, 1982. The tower was reopened for business in October 2009 and is used by lift companies for R&D, testing and marketing (ELEVATOR WORLD, February 2010). There are six lift shafts of varying heights and speeds, including a high-speed shaft with a travel of 100 m and a theoretical maximum speed of 10 mps.

FLOW was funded by the Arts Council England, European Regional Development Fund, Northamptonshire County Council and Legacy Trust U.K. The National Lift Tower is a regional, if not national, landmark that signals both the gateway to the Midlands and the North, and to the southeast of England. The laser-art installation was truly spectacular, as Northamptonshire continues to develop its national reputation for pioneering contemporary visual and digital art. Even though the light installation was dismantled May 6, it may be reinstalled permanently in hopes the tower is used as an icon for the region.                                        

Since 1953, Elevator World, Inc. has been the premier publisher for the global vertical transportation industry. It employs specialists in Mobile, Alabama, and has technical and news correspondents around the world.

Get more of Elevator World. Sign up for our free e-newsletter.

Please enter a valid email address.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Elevator World | September 2012 Cover

❯ Read the Magazine Flipbook
Tom-Ledden-President-of-Gotham-Elevator-and-World-Traveler

Tom Ledden, President of Gotham Elevator and World Traveler, Discusses How to Maintain a Successful Business amidst Code Changes

One-Urban-World-Ups-and-Downs-and-All-Arounds

One Urban World: Ups and Downs and All Arounds

Digipara-Elevator-Architect

Digipara Elevator Architect

The-Future-City---A-Study-on-Urban

The Future City – A Study on Urban Development and Future Transportation Needs

President-Obama-Visits-One-WTC

President Obama Visits One WTC

Cruising-in-Chicago

Cruising in Chicago

CEDES-Science-Park

CEDES Science Park

Visiting-Atlantic-City-During-United-2012

Visiting Atlantic City During United 2012

Elevator World | September 2012 Cover

❯ Read the Magazine Flipbook