User:Mark/St Martins Tower


 * Used to be called City Centre Tower.
 * Designed by Ross Chisholm of Architects Cameron Chisholm & Nicol.
 * net lettable area: 21470 m2
 * site area approximately 3735 m2
 * Had an AAPT sign installed on its top in 1998.
 * In 1974 as the tower was being completed a fire broke out on its top floor. -- check that the fire was actually in St Martins, not some nearby building
 * It was Perth's tallest building from 1977 to 1988.
 * A refurbishment of the St Martins Centre complex (which includes St Martins Tower and a couple of other buildings) was announced in 2008. It would include an expansion of the St Martins Tower lobby, glass canopies and recladding of the surrounding buildings at street level to "unite" the buildings in the complex at ground level.
 * The tower forms part of a complex of three buildings called "St Martins Centre".
 * The corner of St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street was home to the town house of Lionel Samson which was built in 1842. This building was used by the Weld Club from its founding to when it moved to its present site in 1892.
 * The building was taken over in the late 1890s by the Commercial Bank of Australia.
 * This historic house was demolished in 1974 to make way for the new bank tower as part of the City Centre development.
 * Westpac signs were installed on this corner building in 1983.
 * Also on the site were the Friendly Society building and the West Australian Club, both of which were demolished in 1974 to make way for the redevopment.
 * By 1987 the building was known as St Martins Tower, after its owner St Martins Properties, which at that stage was owned by interests in Kuwait.
 * The prefabricated concrete outer concrete cladding panels on the tower developed concrete cancer, necessitating repairs to ensure chunks of concrete did not fall to the ground below.
 * The problem was resolved by overcladding the entire concrete surface with metal cladding.
 * There was no problem with the structure of the building, merely the prefabricated outer facade panels which had been prepared onsite.
 * The tower was taken off the market in early 1987 by its owners after it failed to sell, chiefly due to the costs associated with its recladding.

Revolving restaurant

 * Hilite 33 opened in 1978.
 * It completed one revolution every 90 minutes.
 * The business and lease were sold in 2000 by its founder and owner of 22 years, Alain Kuhl, for just under $700,000.